Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices For Stroke Prevention In Atrial Fibrillation

Stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important goal of treatment. Treatment with anticoagulant medications is the most common approach to stroke prevention. Because most embolic strokes originate from the left atrial appendage, occlusion of the left atrial appendage may offer a nonpharmacologic alternative to anticoagulant medications to lower the risk of stroke. Multiple percutaneously deployed devices are being investigated for left atrial appendage closure (LAAC). Two types of left atrial appendage devices (the Watchman and Amplatzer Amulet devices) have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for stroke prevention in patients with AF.