left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO)

Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a minimally invasive procedure that seals off a small pouch in the heart called the left atrial appendage, which is a common source of blood clots in people with atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat). By closing this pouch, the risk of blood clots forming and traveling to cause strokes is reduced. The procedure typically involves threading a device through blood vessels to the heart to block the opening of the pouch. LAAO offers a way to lower stroke risk without long-term blood-thinning medications for suitable patients.