Summary

In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), ∼90% of emboli are thought to form within the left atrial appendage (LAA). Since AF is the number one cause of stroke in older adults, some physicians have hypothesized that removing or isolating the LAA may an effective treatment option to reduce the risk of embolic stroke. This is especially applicable to those patients who are poor candidates for anticoagulants. This article discusses the LARIAT device which is used for percutaneous LAA closure.