Our editors talked with Dr. Aníbal Damonte

Percutaneous closure of left atrial appendage is now a practice that is becoming more topical with a view to results and perspectives. In this regard, we interviewed Dr. Aníbal Damonte, interventional cardiologist at the Cardiovascular Institute of Rosario (Rosario, Argentina). 

WEB SOLACI: May I first ask you to explain what is the justification for a procedure such as the closure of the left atrial appendage? 

Aníbal Damonte: Justification for this procedure is based on the high prevalence of atrial fibrillation, which we all know, is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and which in turn is a major cause of morbidity and mortality secondary to cardioembolic stroke rate. 

We have all known for years that the protection strategy for these events rests with oral anticoagulants. However, both experiences in our region, (prospective registry of atrial fibrillation made