Applications

1700 – Totally thoracoscopic exclusion of the left atrial appendage for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Find out about the service or technology in this application and the medical condition it addresses. You can also view the application documents, the deadlines for providing consultation input and the outcome of the application when the MSAC process is complete.

  • Status Complete
  • Type New application
  • Pre-PASC consultation Closed
  • Pre-MSAC consultation Closed
  • Outcome Not supported

Application details

Reason for application

New MBS item.

Service or technology in this application

Surgical exclusion of the left atrial appendage via implantation of an epicardial clip via totally thorascopic access. The left atrial appendage is sized via direct measurement under view of the thorascope, an epicardial left atrial appendage exclusion device is then positioned and deployed under thorascope visualization at the base of the left atrial appendage. The result is electrical and haemodynamic isolation of the appendage from the left atrium.

Type: Therapeutic technology

Medical condition this application addresses

Atrial fibrillation is a key risk factor for ischaemic strokes. Thrombus may form when blood becomes trapped in the left atrial appendage due to the fibrillation causing intermittent stasis of the blood. This thrombus is able to enter the systemic circulation upstream of the cerebral vasculature, creating the risk of ischaemic stroke via blockage of one or more cerebral arteries.

Consultation survey and deadlines

  • PASC consultation: Closed
  • MSAC consultation: Closed Friday 10 February 2023

Meetings to consider this application

  • PASC meeting: 13–14 April 2022
  • ESC meeting: 9–10 February 2023
  • MSAC meeting: 30–31 March 2023