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Updated: Apr 10, 2026
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Left atrial appendage occlusion for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation
Duong Le1, Remo Morelli, Nitish Badhwar
1St Mary's Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Insights
Left atrial appendage closure devices offer an alternative to warfarin for preventing cardioembolic strokes in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. These devices provide a new option for stroke risk reduction in AF.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Devices
- Stroke Prevention
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly increases the risk of cardioembolic stroke.
- Warfarin, a traditional anticoagulant, has limitations in preventing strokes in AF patients.
- Novel oral anticoagulation therapy is also used for stroke prevention in AF.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the historical development of left atrial appendage (LAA) exclusion devices.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of LAA exclusion devices as an alternative stroke prevention strategy.
- To discuss patient selection for LAA exclusion device implantation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of historical development and clinical studies.
- Analysis of effectiveness data for LAA exclusion devices.
- Discussion of patient profiles suitable for LAA exclusion.
Main Results:
- LAA exclusion devices have evolved significantly.
- These devices demonstrate effectiveness in preventing cardioembolic stroke.
- Specific patient criteria can optimize the selection for LAA exclusion.
Conclusions:
- LAA exclusion devices represent a viable alternative to warfarin and novel oral anticoagulants.
- Effective patient selection is crucial for successful LAA exclusion outcomes.
- Further research may refine the role of LAA exclusion in AF stroke prevention.
Abstract:
The most severe consequence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a cardioembolic stroke. The incidence of cardioembolic stroke increases significantly in patients with AF. Although warfarin has been the mainstay of the prevention of cardioembolic stroke, there are several limitations to the use of warfarin that hinder its effectiveness. This article provides the historical development of devices that exclude the left atrial appendage, their effectiveness and potential patient selection, as an alternative to warfarin and the novel oral anticoagulation therapy for the prevention of cardioembolic stroke in patients with AF.
