Is left atrial appendage occlusion useful for prevention of stroke or embolism in atrial fibrillation?
Since in atrial fibrillation more than 90% of the thrombi are located in the left atrial appendage, an “elimination” of the left atrial appendage, either by resection or occlusion, seems an attractive alternative to oral anticoagulation. Although frequently regarded as an useless appendage, data from animal and human investigations show that the left atrial appendage may play an important role in the maintenance and regulation of the cardiac function, especially in arterial hypertension, atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease, valvular heart disease and heart failure. Elimination of the left atrial appendage may impede thirst in hypovolemia, deteriorate hemodynamic responses to volume or pressure overload, decrease cardiac output and promote heart failure. Instead of preventing stroke, the consequences of left atrial appendage elimination may create new risk factors for stroke and thus might induce more harm than benefit to patients with atrial fibrillation. As long as the physiol
Related Questions
- Except in Cases of Atrial Fibrillation, What Are the Theoretical Indications of Oral Anticoagulants in the Prevention of Stroke?
- I have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and hyperthyroidism. Should I be anticoagulated to reduce the risk of a stroke?
- Why is a stroke a possible complication of atrial fibrillation?
