Concomitant LAA Closure during Cardiac Surgery-Update 2025

Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2026 Jan;74(1):55-58. doi: 10.1055/a-2561-8547. Epub 2025 Apr 15.

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of embolic strokes and is present in about one-fourth of all patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA) can effectively reduce the risk of neurological events and is now a class IB recommendation in the most recent ESC/EACTS AF guidelines. The working group "Heart Rhythm Disorders" of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (DGTHG) evaluates the current state of clinical research and recommends concomitant LAA closure in patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation as a routine part of heart surgeries.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline

MeSH terms

  • Atrial Appendage* / diagnostic imaging
  • Atrial Appendage* / physiopathology
  • Atrial Appendage* / surgery
  • Atrial Fibrillation* / complications
  • Atrial Fibrillation* / diagnosis
  • Atrial Fibrillation* / physiopathology
  • Atrial Fibrillation* / surgery
  • Cardiac Catheterization* / adverse effects
  • Cardiac Catheterization* / instrumentation
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures* / adverse effects
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures* / standards
  • Humans
  • Left Atrial Appendage Closure / standards
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke* / etiology
  • Stroke* / prevention & control
  • Treatment Outcome