FLUID-STRUCTURE INTERACTION STUDY POST-LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE INVERSION PROCEDURE ON PATIENT-SPECIFIC MODELS

Atrial fibrillation (AF) increases the risk of thromboembolic events due to clot formation in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Left atrial appendage inversion (LAAI) has emerged as a minimally invasive, devicefree alternative to traditional LAA exclusion methods. Using a suction-based catheter, the procedure partially inverts the LAA into the atrium, leveraging the heart's natural tissue responses for occlusion without permanent implants [1]. To evaluate the biomechanical and hemodynamic outcomes of LAAI, patient-specific fluid-solid interaction (FSI) analyses were performed on four LAA morphologies (chicken wing, windsock, cactus, cauliflower) to assess hemodynamic changes and thrombogenic potential within the inverted LAA