A Review of the LARIAT Suture Delivery Device for Left Atrial Appendage Closure

The prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is 1-2 % in the general population, and the risk of embolic stroke in AF patients is 4-5 times higher than that in the general population. AF-related strokes are often severe, and the rate of permanent disability is much higher among individuals who have AF-related strokes than in those who have strokes unrelated to AF. In patients with AF, more than 90 % of thrombi originate from the left atrial appendage (LAA). The purpose of this paper is to review the efficacy and safety of performing the LAA closure with the LARIAT Suture Delivery Device to prevent AF-related stroke in patients with contraindications to oral anticoagulant therapy.