An endovascular approach to cardioembolic stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation patients.

This report is of a 62-year-old woman presenting with a 3-year history of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) and unable to tolerate chronic warfarin therapy due to bleeding episodes and unstable INR values. Additional high risk factors for stroke are a history of congestive heart failure and previous embolic stroke. Percutaneous left atrial appendage transcatheter occlusion (PLAATO ) was performed to seal the LAA. A transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) at the 1- and 6-month follow-up showed no device migration and no new thrombus related to the implant. The patient has been doing well on postprocedure aspirin with no embolic events.