Does anyone have experience of Left Atrial Appendage occlusion.

[Capri62]

I have been on Apixaban for PAF. 4 years, had a stroke 2 years ago,was told i would remain on Apixaban for the rest of my life Had an Ablation 10 months ago, only one episode of PAF since. Had a bleed on the brain 4 weeks ago, they took me off Apixaban, as a bleed takes precedence over stroke Doctors are talking about the possibility of a left Atrial Appendage Closure. I know very little about this procedure has anyone here had this procedure?

[BobD Volunteer]

here in UK it is only available to a very small number of people who are unable to take anticoagulants so there is little anecdotal information available about results but I think one of our members in USA has recently had such procedure and may answer in due course. .

[Capri62 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob.

[walker66]

Hi, I had the procedure carried out last summer, after having two strokes. The first stroke was a clot at 46 so I was put on anti coagulants then 3 years later at 49 I had a stroke that was a bleed so they were stopped. I joined a study afterwards which meant I had to have blood tests carried out at day 1,3,5,7,10,14 and monthly then afterwards. Touch wood, I've had no stroke related issues since and don't miss looking like a scene from the Carrie film every time I shave my legs in the shower!

If there's any more that I can help you with regarding this proceedure please ask away.

Regards,.

Sharon

[Capri62 in reply to walker66]

Hi Sharon, thank you for replying. Am i right in thinking they have not put you back on anticoagulants?. Did they give you a percentage risk factor for this procedure?,

Denis

[walker66 in reply to Capri62]

Hi, I am not on any anti coagulants since the proceedure, and should never, hopefully ever need them again. They may well have told me about the risk percentages but I honestly can't remember. The one thing I can remember them saying was that without the proceedure my risk of having another, and perhaps a fatal one, was increased dramatically. Touch wood, that this continues to be the case. If you do have the proceedure then I wish you all the very best of luck in the world, and for a healthy and speedy recovery.

Sharon

[Ianc2]

Hi Capri62 . May I congratulate you on your user name. I got mugged by a gang of italian sparrows while having lunch in capri - usual story, lonely bedraggled sparrow appears begging for a crumb. So I took pity on it and dispatched a crumb. Next minute an adjacent olive tree erupted into a swarm of sparrows and pigeons and assorted motley birds and that was the end of the lunch. My wife managed to stop laughing long enough to take several pictures .

I am not sure if this is the same procedure but I had my atrial appendage removed as part of a heart valve repair, with a clip that looks a bit like a small clothes peg left in place to keep it closed. Did it work? Well I have I haven't had a stroke -so far, but I am not too sure what evidence there is for this being effective.

Be of good cheer and enjoy life

Ian

[Capri62 in reply to Ianc2]

Hi Ian, Capri is a beautiful place isn't it ! fortunately the birds didn't gang up on me whilst i was there.

It certainly sounds like the same procedure. How long ago did you have it done? Glad to hear it is working ok.

Denis

[Ianc2]

May 22 2014. Open heart surgery, followed by an ablation for flutter in Sept 2015. Still got mild afib. I am 73 and had chat with my cardiologist along the lines of "it doesn't bother me too much, I sleep well, especially on my right side. I can enjoy a regular 5-7 mile walk. He replied "If you are happy to continue on that basis and take warfarin - fair enough. We will meet again in a years time.

Ian

[Capri62]

Thank you Sharon and Ian for sharing your experiences, it is good to hear from someone who has experience of this procedure. its obvious i shall have to do a lot more reading before making any decisions.