Left atrial appendage closure with device for atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation is the most common observed arrhythmia in clinical practice and it represents an
important risk factor for cardio-embolism and cardio-embolic stroke. Atrial fibrillation patients have a
5 fold increase in stroke events. In non-valvular atrial fibrillation over 90% of thrombus formation is
within the left atrial appendage and therefore prevention of embolization to systemic circulation and in
particular to cerebral circulation goes through a therapy that has the left atrial appendage as the main
target. Several anatomo-pathological studies and observations during open heart surgery confirm these
data and give a rational basis to this point of view.