The pericardium-reinforced technique of amputation of the left atrial appendage: quick, safe, and simple.

Ligation or amputation of the left atrial appendage is indicated in several surgical procedures but has been shown ineffective in many cases, depending on the method used. The only 100% effective means of excluding the left atrial appendage from the circulation is by complete resection. Complicating complete resection or amputation is the thin, fragile, delicate left atrial tissue, with a certain incidence of bleeding occurring. To handle this tissue adequately, we developed a safe and easy method for amputation of the left atrial appendage using autologous pericardium as reinforcement. Copyright 2010 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.