Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion in atrial fibrillation: Who, how and why?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained common cardiac arrthyrthmia which has been estimated to effect 1% of the total the NHS budget and is responsible for 12,500 ischaemic strokes in AF occur as a result of embolisation of thrombus that has formed in the left atrium more specifically, in the left atrial appendage (LAA). Strategies employed to isolate the LAA from the systemic circulation could avert the need for oral anticoagulation in high risk patients with AF. LAA occlusion devices, although still novel, have been shown to be non-inferior to warfarin in recent clinical trials and may increasingly become an option for those with a high stroke risk where oral anticoagulation is contraindicated. This article reviews the indications for implantation of a LAA occlusion device, describes the procedure and discusses the relevant considerations for nursing care.