New Hope For Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a fairly common type of arrhythmia in elderly. The incidence of atrial fibrillation increases with age. The biggest risk for patients with AF is thromboembolism. Unfortunately, most of these embolic episodes affect the brain. Typically, cardiac–source emboli are larger and therefore, affect large vascular territories of the brain, leading to severely disabling strokes. Over the years, oral anticoagulation has significantly reduced the risk of embolism. Earlier, we had to struggle with titrating vitamin K antagonists, which have poor dose–response predictability and therefore, they either failed to protect or caused bleeding. Now, anticoagulation has become easier because of the availability of the Non-vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants. However, some patients cannot receive either of them because they have a high risk of bleeding or already have had clinical bleeding. This is a vexing clinical scenario. Fortunately, for such patients, the advent of a new therapy comes as a boon, i.e. Left Atrial Appendage Device Closure.