Left Atrial Appendage Closure and Exclusion Devices for Stroke Risk Reduction in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

Currently, atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia worldwide and substantially increases the given patient’s risk of ischemic stroke. Approximately 90% of thrombi in patients with nonvalvular AF originate in the left atrial appendage. While oral anticoagulation serves as the standard approach to mitigate stroke risk, alternative strategies continue to be developed and clinically employed which commonly involve the closure of the left atrial appendage. This chapter outlines current surgical and transcatheter device interventions aimed at occluding or excluding blood flow to the left atrial appendage, as well as providing the reader with insights into their clinical applications and outcomes.