Study Purpose: The study aims to see if a procedure called left atrial appendage exclusion (LAAE) can prevent strokes in people having heart surgery. The left atrial appendage is a small part of the heart. Ischemic stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked, and systemic arterial embolism occurs when blood clots travel through the arteries.
Who Can Join: Adults 18 or older can join if they have a high risk of stroke based on a scoring system called CHA2DS2-VASc. People with certain heart conditions or a history of heart procedures cannot join. Also, those with infections, allergies to certain metals, or who are pregnant, among others, are excluded.
- This study requires people to be part of a larger group undergoing heart surgery.
- Participants should expect multiple visits as part of the study requirements.
- There may be risks involved, and the trial is conducted in a blinded way, meaning participants won't know if they received the treatment or not.