Robotic-assisted left atrial ligation for stroke reduction in chronic atrial fibrillation: a case report

Heart Surg Forum. 2006;9(1):E533-5; discussion E535. doi: 10.1532/HSF98.20051148.

Abstract

Patients with atrial fibrillation are at significant risk for sustaining a thromboembolic stroke. More than 90% of thromboemboli form in the left atrial appendage. Ligation of the left atrial appendage to reduce the risk of stroke is often performed in connection with other cardiac surgical procedures. As a stand-alone procedure, however, left atrial ligation has generally been deemed too invasive and has gained little support as an alternative therapeutic option. We report a case of port-access robotic-assisted left atrial ligation as a stand-alone procedure in a patient with chronic atrial fibrillation in whom anticoagulation was a contraindication. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of stand-alone robotic-assisted left atrial ligation in the literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anticoagulants
  • Atrial Fibrillation / complications*
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / instrumentation*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Contraindications
  • Heart Atria / surgery
  • Heart Diseases / etiology
  • Heart Diseases / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures
  • Robotics*
  • Stroke / etiology
  • Stroke / prevention & control*
  • Thrombosis / etiology
  • Thrombosis / surgery

Substances

  • Anticoagulants