LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE CLOSURE for Stroke prevention in aFib
- Anticoagulant therapy effectively reduces the incidence of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), but is underutilized and frequently contraindicated.
- The left atrial appendage (LAA) is the primary site of thrombus formation in AF patients.
- Surgical and percutaneous appendage closure has been evaluated as a site-specific therapy to reduce systemic thromboembolism and is now recommended in patients with atrial fibrillation who are poor candidates for long-term anticoagulation
- Are there any other treatment options to help to prevent a stroke? Left atrial appendage closure
Assessing your risk of bleeding with blood-thinning medicine
Click here for an online calculator
HAS-BLED- Bleeding risk scoring system |
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Risk factors |
Score |
|
H -Hypertension (uncontrolled) | Is your blood pressure more than 160 mmHg? |
1 |
A – Abnormal kidney and/or function | Do you have serious kidney problems such as renal failure, are you on dialysis, or have you had a kidney transplant? |
1 |
Do you have an abnormal liver function? |
1 |
|
S – Stroke | Have you ever suffered a stroke (even a mini-stroke)? |
1 |
B – Bleeding | Have you ever suffered any serious bleeding? |
1 |
L – Labile INRs | Are you on warfarin? (If your answer is no, then score 0). If you are on warfarin is your INR within the range of 2.0 to 3.0 most of the time? (If no, score 1) |
1 |
E – Elderly | Are you aged 65 or more? |
1 |
D – Other prescription drugs and alcohol | Do you take aspirin or painkillers
regularly together with a blood-thinning medicine? |
1 |
Do you drink more than the recommended daily amount of alcohol? |
1 |
|
Total maximum score possible |
PER-CUTANEOUS TECHNIQUES
WATCHMAN LAA Closure Technology
LARIAT SUTURE CLOSURE
SURGICAL TECHNIQUES
ATRICLIP
TRADITIONAL SURGICAL CLOSURE
DEVICES IN CLINICAL TRIALS AT ARIZONA HEART RHYTHM CENTER
AMULET
WAVECREST
One Call Coordinates Care
Please call (602)-456-AFIB (2342) or complete this form to request an appointment . Our access team is available to triage your call and arrange a prompt evaluation with the most appropriate atrial fibrillation specialist.