Concomitant left atrial appendage occlusion in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

The Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Study (LAAOS III) was a multicenter, randomized controlled trial that included patients undergoing cardiac surgery who also had atrial fibrillation. The trial recruited 4811 participants, of which 2400 patients were randomized to undergo left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion surgery, while 2411 participants had isolated cardiac surgery. The aim of the study was to determine whether concomitant occlusion of the LAA prevents ischemic stroke or systemic embolism. The study also evaluated the efficacy and safety of concomitant LAA occlusion in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The number of ischemic strokes or systemic embolisms was significantly lower in the LAA occlusion group [114 (4.8%) vs. 68 (7.0%)] compared to the no-occlusion surgery group. There was also no increase in hospital length of stay or hospitalization for heart failure. It is expected that based on the findings of the LAAOS III study, the recommendations for concomitant LAA occlusion will be upgraded from the current class IIB to class I.