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Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
28:13

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 26, 2013

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Managing the Left Atrial Appendage in Atrial Fibrillation: Current State of the Art

Waqaar Khawar1, Nathan Smith2, Saqib Masroor3

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Aventura Hospital and Medical Center, Aventura, Florida.

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|August 23, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Left atrial appendage exclusion offers a safe and effective alternative to anticoagulation for preventing stroke in atrial fibrillation patients. Treatment choice depends on individual patient factors and expert consultation.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Devices
  • Stroke Prevention

Background:

  • Patients with atrial fibrillation face a higher risk of thromboembolic stroke, often originating from the left atrial appendage.
  • Standard stroke risk reduction involves anticoagulation, with device-based left atrial appendage exclusion emerging as an alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current devices and approaches for left atrial appendage exclusion.
  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of left atrial appendage exclusion compared to medical management.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search of PubMed and relevant journals.
  • Review of articles focusing on left atrial appendage management strategies.
  • Manual search of bibliographies and key journals for additional sources.

Main Results:

  • Left atrial appendage exclusion is performed via percutaneous and surgical methods.
  • The review covers indications, limitations, and outcomes of existing exclusion devices.
  • Exclusion demonstrates comparable safety and efficacy to anticoagulation for stroke prevention.

Conclusions:

  • Left atrial appendage excision and exclusion are safe and effective for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.
  • Treatment selection requires consideration of patient anatomy, history, and preferences.
  • An multidisciplinary left atrial appendage management team approach is recommended for optimal decision-making.
Abstract

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