[Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure: an alternative in patients with atrial fibrillation and high bleeding risk?].

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and its prevalence increases with age. AF increases the risk of stroke by a factor of 5 and strokes related to AF are associated with higher mortality and morbidity when compared with strokes in patients with sinus rhythm. Oral anticoagulation is efficient to reduce the risk of stroke in AF patients, but with a substantial risk of bleeding. In clinical practice, 50% of the AF patients with an indication for oral anticoagulation do not receive the treatment. Indeed, many patients do not tolerate oral anticoagulation and this is still true despite the new drugs. Recently, percutaneous left atrial appendage closure for AF patients with high risk of stroke became a valid alternative to oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention.