Left atrial appendage occlusion: What is its role today?
Abstract
In many patients with paroxysmal or permanent nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 or more, warfarin or other newer oral anti-coagulant therapies are contra-indicated, or are not prescribed, for a variety of reasons. These patients are therefore at risk of serious life threatening thrombo-embolic events particularly large stroke. Percutaneous occlusion of the left atrial appendage, the source of the majority of these emboli, is a therapy which should be considered in these patients. There is growing evidence that this procedure is as good as, if not superior in the long term, to chronic warfarin therapy.Copyright (c) 2017 SA Heart Journal
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