Title: Acute embolic stroke secondary to thrombus formation on atrial surface of a left atrial appendage occlusion device
Abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is projected to affect 25% of the world’s population above 40 years old. As the population of the United States ages, AF is predicted to affect close to 12 million people by 2050.1 Prevalence of AF increases with the presence of cardiovascular comorbidities, which in turn amplifies the risk of thromboembolic events.2 Left atrial appendage occlusion devices (LAAODs) have emerged as an alternative to oral anticoagulation for stroke prophylaxis in patients at high risk for bleeding events.