Percutaneous exclusion of the left atrial appendage in prevention of systemic embolism

Left atrial appendage is the most frequent place of blood clot formation in heart cavities. The thrombus formation increases a risk of a systemic embolism especially in patients with a permanent atrial fibrillation. The standard preventive treatment is the oral anticoagulation therapy. Another possible treatment is an exclusion of a left atrial appendage. We present current overview of risks and benefits of surgical and percutaneous elimination of a left atrial appendage. We present the first experience with AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug system in an elimination of a left atrial appendage. We concluded that an exclusion of left atrial appendage could become a useful possibility of prevention of systemic embolization in patients with an atrial fibrillation, but is not still an alternative therapy for anticoagulation therapy at present.