Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion (LAAO) is a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure designed to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AFib). In patients with AFib, blood may pool within the left atrial appendage (LAA), a small pouch located in the left atrium, increasing the risk of blood clot formation and subsequent stroke.

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LAAO provides an alternative stroke prevention strategy for appropriately selected patients who are unable to tolerate or are poor candidates for long-term oral anticoagulation. Following implantation, patients require individualized antithrombotic therapy and follow-up imaging to assess device positioning, adequate closure, and potential complications such as device-related thrombus or peri-device leaks.

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LAAO has become an important component of structural heart interventions, offering eligible patients a less invasive approach to long-term stroke risk reduction while potentially decreasing their need for lifelong anticoagulation.