Saw a piece on the news about a new keyhole op called heart clip where they put a clip on the bit of the heart where the blood clots can form in people with AF this is in Australia has anyone else heard of it
Heart clip: Saw a piece on the news... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Heart clip
![Mazza23 profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/58bf5ad10b6fa9e8a44d36bf86b471d7_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
![Mazza23 profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/58bf5ad10b6fa9e8a44d36bf86b471d7_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
![Beancounter profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/1650d387902d7e056f489d6244f24541_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Hi Mazza
Yes there are two versions, internal or external, or there's surgery which is the left atrial appendage occlusion. (LAAO)
They all appear to be effective in decreasing the risk of stroke, it's just that my understanding is that they usually only do it in the UK, if either
a) You are already having heart surgery they then do the external tie off
b) You are high risk and unable to take anti-coagulants for any reason.
I suppose it is an interesting questions as to why more people do not have the internal "cage type" one inserted if they are having ablations. Not sure I know the answer.
Be well
Ian
If I recall correctly 10 centres in the UK are doing this. There are three internal versions and one is called the watchman. Another is something like amp let or ampules Been a number of posts on this forum, including in the last 10 days. Also info on main AFA website as well as various hospitals and EP's own websites.