Occlusion of the left atrial appendage 'reduces stroke risk'
Landmark trial shows the benefit of occlusion in patients with atrial fibrillation
Occluding the left atrial appendage when cardiac surgery is undertaken for other reasons in patients with atrial fibrillation can lower their stroke risk by one third, researchers say.
The findings of the randomised trial, known as LAAOS III, were reported at ACC.21, the virtual annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology, and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.
All 4770 participants from centres in 27 countries had atrial