Left atrial appendage occlusion.
Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a first-line therapy for stroke prevention in patients suffering from atrial fibrillation (AF). While patients at high risk for bleeding or patients with previous bleeding have the highest relative risk reduction from LAAO, it is the younger patients with a high lifetime bleeding risk who benefit from the highest absolute risk reduction after LAAO. Therefore, LAAO should be discussed with every AF patient, as an alternative to lifelong oral anticoagulation. The patient needs to be informed about the risks and benefits of each treatment strategy in order to take an informed treatment decision.