Left Atrial Appendage Closure: Novel Cor-Knot Lasso Technique Ensures Complete and Safe Ligation

The significance of the left atrial appendage has been well known for a half century. Surgeons used a number of left atrial appendage closure techniques to reduce the risk of stroke without increasing the chance of bleeding from fragile left atrial appendage. Removal and oversewing are simple and effective. Current procedures, however, have the disadvantage of 30% to 40% residual appendage. Here, we discuss our innovative lasso technique using a Cor-Knot device for left atrial appendage closure in 50 consecutive patients between January 2018 and January 2019 who underwent mitral valve surgery. This technique ensured complete closure, with no new cerebrovascular events during the 2-year follow-up.