Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion Trial

Hi Valveittes, Just interviewed my first Surgeon for a bicuspid valve replacement. He spoke to me about joining a trial using an ArtiClip to close off my left appendage to reduce the risk of stroke due to Afib. Have any of you had this done because you had Afib going into surgery? If so what was your experience? My second interview is next week and then I decide who I want to go with. Looking forward to moving forward!

Interesting, so this is like a Watchman device maybe?
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17167-left-atrial-appendage--closure

Are they saying you can avoid anticoagulation with this? (The article seems to indicate that LAA procedures address non valvular afib and stroke risk). What kind of valve are you getting?

Curious if they’re pitching this as a benefit to you or merely a hopefully harmless addition to your surgery. And very curious to see what other valvers have been told about LAA, whether this device or one of the existing approaches. I developed afib recently so it’s on my radar.

I haven’t decided on a valve yet, however it won’t be mechanical. This surgeon prefers bovine for a female at 72 yrs old. He felt the LAA would be a benefit to me because I have had a TIA and an old episode they found when they did a MRI in 2018.

Yes, they have shown that an LAA can help avoid clots therefore strokes coming from afib. The surgeon said he would continue my low dose aspirin but not add an anticoagulant. I just did a heart monitor last week, and need results to decide if I want this. The trial is for people who don’t have afib, to see if it will reduce the risk of stroke. The device is called AtriClip LAA Exclusion System. It is a 5 to 10 year trial. Pretty cool if it works.

Bee said:

Hi Valveittes, Just interviewed my first Surgeon for a bicuspid valve replacement. He spoke to me about joining a trial using an ArtiClip to close off my left appendage to reduce the risk of stroke due to Afib. Have any of you had this done because you had Afib going into surgery? If so what was your experience? My second interview is next week and then I decide who I want to go with. Looking forward to moving forward!

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My surgeon, after my surgery, told me that he removed my left appendage for the same reason. My surgery was in 2008 and I had two valves replaced. Good luck. Since you’re interviewing another surgeon (which is great idea), ask him.
Good luck.