Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion has become a cornerstone strategy for reducing stroke risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who are unable to tolerate long-term oral anticoagulation. By mechanically sealing the left atrial appendage, where the majority of thrombi originate in atrial fibrillation, this catheter-based intervention provides an alternative pathway to stroke prevention while potentially minimising bleeding complications. As interest in structural heart and electrophysiology therapies grows worldwide, many clinicians actively search for specialised Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion focused learning opportunities and cardiology conferences that showcase best practices, device selection and long-term outcomes.

This session is designed for interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, imaging specialists, cardiac anaesthetists, nurses and trainees who manage complex atrial fibrillation populations in both inpatient and outpatient settings. It examines landmark clinical trials, contemporary guideline recommendations and large real-world registries that support left atrial appendage closure in high-risk patients with contraindications, previous major bleeding or poor adherence to anticoagulant therapy. Faculty will explore how to balance stroke risk, assessed through CHA?DS?-VASc or similar scores, against bleeding risk scores and patient preferences when choosing between device closure and lifelong medication.

A major emphasis is placed on imaging-guided planning and intraprocedural guidance. Attendees will review transoesophageal echocardiography, intracardiac echocardiography and CT-based sizing strategies to optimise device selection, positioning and seal. Practical tips on recognising unfavourable anatomies, depth and angulation issues, thrombus, and peri-procedural complications are discussed in detail. The session also explores how atrial fibrillation stroke prevention strategies are evolving more broadly, including rhythm-control approaches, upstream risk-factor modification, sleep apnoea management, hypertension control, obesity and diabetes care, as well as how these interact with decisions about left atrial appendage closure.

An important component of this session is practical workflow design. Speakers will outline pre-procedure evaluation pathways, including multidisciplinary clinic assessment, optimisation of heart failure status, renal function review, anticoagulation bridging or cessation plans and patient education about expectations and recovery. Intra-procedure checklists, vascular-access strategies, anaesthesia choices, haemodynamic monitoring and post-procedure observation protocols are covered in a pragmatic, stepwise fashion so that attendees can translate learning directly into their own cath-lab and ward environments.

Beyond the index procedure, participants will gain insight into post-implant care, device surveillance and structured follow-up pathways. Topics include antithrombotic strategies after implantation, transitioning from dual to single therapy, peridevice leak assessment, device-related thrombus, endothelialisation timelines and recommended follow-up imaging protocols with TEE or CT. Case-based discussions highlight decision-making in challenging anatomies, redo procedures, concomitant catheter ablation, patients with mechanical or bioprosthetic valves, chronic kidney disease, prior cardiac surgery or multiple comorbidities who still stand to benefit from mechanical stroke prevention.

The programme also addresses health-system and service-delivery perspectives. Attendees will hear how to build a multidisciplinary heart team, develop standardised referral criteria, integrate shared decision-making tools and establish quality indicators for left atrial appendage occlusion programmes. Considerations such as training curves, learning-curve related complications, cost-effectiveness, reimbursement models and equitable access in different healthcare systems are examined to help centres scale their services responsibly.

Finally, the session looks ahead to next-generation closure technologies and procedural innovations, including fully percutaneous minimal-contrast workflows, low-radiation or fluoroless approaches, combinations with other structural heart interventions, and devices tailored for complex appendage morphologies. By the end, attendees will be better equipped to counsel patients, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and design local protocols that improve safety, efficiency and long-term outcomes for those considered for left atrial appendage closure.