Progress of left atrial appendage occlusion combined with radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation

The main purpose of radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is to alleviate the patients’ symptoms and improve their quality of life. However, it is not a substitute for anticoagulation therapy. Left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion has become an important treatment for the prevention of stroke caused by AF and can substitute for anticoagulation therapy but cannot alleviate the symptoms of patients with AF. Thus, the LAA occlusion combined with radiofrequency ablation should be the best choice for treatment of patients with AF and who are not suitable for oral anti-coagulation. The safety, effectiveness and mutual influence of the hybrid procedure were reviewed in this paper.