Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Reduces Stroke After Heart Surgery

“We were ecstatic to see these results,” Whitlock said. “This trial opens a new option for treatment of these patients by layering a mechanical approach—occlusion—on top of a medical approach. Instead of a tension between anticoagulation and occlusion, we need to start thinking about using these as additive approaches when patients are at high risk for stroke. This is a procedure that’s done once, and it keeps giving a benefit over time. This is going to prevent thousands of strokes.”

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