Left atrial appendage occlusion

Abbreviations

CHADS2 – Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age, Diabetes, Stroke
CHA2DS2VASc – Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age, Diabetes, Stroke, Vascular disease, Female gender
ACTIVE – Atrial Fibrillation Clopidogrel Trial with Irbesartan for Prevention of Vascular Events
SPORTIF – Stroke Prevention Using and Oral Thrombin Inhibitor in Atrial Fibrillation
Re-Ly – Randomized Evaluation of Long-term Anticoagulation Therapy
LAA – Left atrial appendage
LAAOS – Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Study
TEE – Transesophageal Echocardiography
PLAATO – Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occluder
ACP – Amplatzer Cardiac Plug

Summary

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia worldwide, with a lifetime incidence approaching 25% and an ever-increasing prevalence in an aging society. It is projected that by the year 2050, 6 to 12% of the world’s population will be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, and 18 million will be affected in Europe by the year 2060. 1 The most devastating consequences of atrial fibrillation are embolic cerebrovascular accidents. While anticoagulation strategies result in...