Evidence-Based Guidelines Issued for LAAO Devices

Created to address the “uncertainty and practice variation” that surrounds transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO), the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and the Heart Rhythm Society have published jointly the first set of guidelines for the use of the procedure.

“There is tremendous diversity in left atrial appendage occlusion practice regarding appropriate patients, periprocedural imaging, adjunctive medical therapy, and management of device leak and device-related thrombus,” said Andrew M. Goldsweig, MD, MS, director of cardiovascular clinical research at the University of Massachusetts-Baystate, in Springfield, Massachusetts, who led the group that wrote the recommendations.

Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for stroke, an