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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
DOI: 10.1055/a-2561-8547
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Concomitant LAA Closure during Cardiac Surgery-Update 2025

Sören Schenk
1   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Sana Herzzentrum Cottbus, Herzchirurgie, Cottbus, Germany
,
Simon Pecha 
2   Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Universitäres Herz- und Gefäßzentrum Hamburg, Klinik für Herz- und Gefäßchirurgie, Hamburg, Germany
,
Nicolas Doll
3   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Schüchtermann-Klinik, Abteilung für Herzchirurgie, Bad Rothenfelde, Niedersachse, Germany
,
Heiko Burger
4   Herzzentrum Kerckhoff-Klinik, Abteilung für Herzchirurgie, Bad Nauheim, Hessen, Germany
,
Michael Knaut
5   Department of Cardiac Surgery, Klinik für Herzchirurgie, Herzzentrum Dresden Universitätsklinik an der Technischen Universität, Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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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.

Keywords

cardiac surgery - atrial fibrillation - stroke - atrial appendage - occlusion - working group heart rhythm disorders

Position Paper of the Working Group Heart Rhythm Disorders of the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (DGTHG).




Publication History

Received: 07 March 2025

Accepted: 14 March 2025

Article published online:
15 April 2025

© 2025. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
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