The Clinics: Internal Medicine

This issue of Interventional Cardiology Clinics examines approaches to left atrial appendage exclusion. Topics include stroke and bleeding risks in patients with atrial fibrillation, embryology and anatomy, rationale, catheter-based endocardial closure, pericardial access, catheter-based epicardial closure, surgical closure, device and left atrial appendage specific characteristic for successful closure, clinical results, the role of CTA and MRA imaging, imaging with TEE, post-procedural management, and prevention and management of complications.