Advances in Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Strategies.

ABSTRACT: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide and associated with an elevated risk of thromboembolic stroke and systemic embolization. The evidence suggests that ~90% of thrombi in patients with non-valvular AF are localized to the left atrial appendage (LAA). Therefore, it seems reasonable to consider LAA exclusion in selected patients with AF for stroke prevention. LAA exclusion can be achieved through a variety of surgical and percutaneous techniques. Surgical methods include LAA amputation, ligation, clipping and stapling. Whereas percutaneous strategies consist of endocardial closure using an LAA occlusion device and epicardial LAA ligation using a snare device. Even though several trials and registries of LAA exclusion have yielded promising outcomes, at th

SUBMITTER: Aryana A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5153132 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature