Cardiac surgery interventions for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent cause of stroke. Surgical ablation of AF presents a rapidly evolving area in cardiac surgery. Concomitant procedures and operations for stand-alone AF have been considered safe and effective in sinus rhythm restoration. Their clinical effect in stroke prevention, as well as the effect of elimination of the left atrial appendage, is less clear. In this article we summarize current cardiac surgery procedures for AF treatment and LAA elimination with special regard to their efficacy in stroke prevention.