Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and remains a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide. A central focus of current research is the left ...

For patients with atrial fibrillation, the use of oral anticoagulant therapy to prevent stroke is limited by the risk of bleeding. Left atrial appendage closure is considered for patients who are ...

Surgical occlusion of the left atrial appendage has been hypothesized to prevent ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, but this has not been proved. The procedure can be performed ...