Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure: beyond the classic indications

Abstract

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) has proven to be an effective alternative to oral anticoagulation (OAC) for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). International guidelines traditionally recommend LAAC for NVAF patients at high thromboembolic risk and contraindication to or at high risk for OAC. However, there are many other clinical situations in which this procedure may also be beneficial. This paper discusses the potential role of LAAC in specific haemorrhagic diseases (cerebral amyloid angiopathy, age-related macular degeneration, hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, and Moyamoya disease), after left atrial appendage (LAA) electrical isolation, in cases of persistent thrombus inside the LAA, in end-stage renal disease and in special groups of patients for whom low compliance and persistence to OAC may be anticipated.