LAAO stands for left atrial appendage occlusion. It is a way to close off the left atrial appendage, a small pouch in the left upper chamber of the heart. LAAO is most commonly discussed for people with atrial fibrillation (AF) who need stroke prevention. It can be done with catheter-based devices or during heart surgery, depending on the case.

Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion is a way to close off a small pouch in the left atrium of the heart called the left atrial appendage. It is most commonly discussed for people with atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm that can raise stroke risk. The goal is to reduce the chance that blood clots form in that pouch and travel to the brain. It can be done with catheter-based devices or with surgical techniques, depending on the situation.