**Interventional Left Atrial Appendage Closure:**

Christian Fastner, Michael Behnes, Uzair Ansari,

Ibrahim El-Battrawy and Martin Borggrefe

**Focus on Practical Implications**

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/67773

#### **Abstract**

Catheter-based left atrial appendage closure is an evolving therapy for the prophylaxis of thromboembolic complications in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients, which are ineligible for long-term oral anticoagulation. For this indication, it is recommended by the current European guidelines. This review of the existing literature should facilitate the understanding of the therapy's practical implications. It presents a clinical approach toward a correct patient selection, gives an overview of the different devices and the procedural aspects, reflects differences and benefits between several postprocedural regimens for device surveillance as well as antithrombotic medication and rounds off with a summary of the relevant studies concerning efficacy and safety outcome measures.

**Keywords:** atrial fibrillation, left atrial appendage closure, thromboembolism, stroke, oral anticoagulation
