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Stroke Risk Reduction

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION (AFIB) AND THE LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE


If you have AFib, irregular electrical impulses in the upper chambers of the heart cause those chambers to fibrillate, or quiver. This results in an irregular and frequently rapid heart rate. This irregular beating can also cause an increased risk for developing blood clots, which can lead to a stroke.1

Download the AFib treatment guide to learn more about your treatment options.

The left atrial appendage is a muscular pouch connected to the left atrium of the heart. This appendage is a normal part of the heart and causes no problems in the general population. However, the left atrial appendage can be a major source of blood clots in people with AFib.2

During AFib, blood clots have the potential to form in the left atrial appendage. If the blood clots are pumped out into the body, the clots may flow to the brain and lead to stroke.

Normal heart

Normal heart

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation

Heart Palpitations

HEART PALPITATIONS

Fainting

FAINTING

Dizziness

LIGHTHEADEDNESS

Shortness of Breath

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

Chest Pain

CHEST PAIN

High blood pressure

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Heart Murmur

VALVULAR HEART DISEASE

Heart Failure

HEART
FAILURE

Coronary Artery Disease

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Cardiomyopathy

CARDIOMYOPATHY

CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

Diabetes

DIABETES

Smoking

SMOKING

Excessive Alcohol use

EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL USE

AFIB TREATMENT

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (AFib), it’s important to seek timely treatment since the condition increases the risk for stroke. Your doctor will discuss the best treatment option for you.

TREATMENT OPTIONS

MAT-2304810 v2.0 | Item approved for U.S. use only.

References
  1. Mayo Clinic. Atrial fibrillation. Accessed March 15, 2023. www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atrial-fibrillation/symptoms-causes/syc-20350624
  2. Onalan O, Crystal E. Left atrial appendage exclusion for stroke prevention in patients with nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. Stroke. 2007;38(2 Suppl):624-30. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000250166.06949.95
Important Safety Information
  • Amplatzer Amulet LAAO

  • WHAT IS THE AMPLATZER™ AMULET™ LEFT ATRIAL
    APPENDAGE (LAA) OCCLUDER APPROVED FOR?
    Available by prescription only.

    The Amplatzer™ Amulet™ LAA Occluder is a device that is placed in the heart during a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure to prevent blood clots from leaving the LAA in patients with atrial fibrillation who are at increased risk for stroke and are unable to take blood-thinning medication long-term.

    WHO SHOULD NOT RECEIVE THE AMPLATZER™ AMULET™ LAA OCCLUDER?

    Patients who have any of the following conditions should not receive the Amplatzer™ Amulet™ LAA Occluder: blood clots in the heart; active heart infection or other infections; anatomy in which the Amplatzer™ Amulet™ LAA Occluder would interfere with other heart structures, such as valves or veins.

    WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMPLATZER™ AMULET™ LAA OCCLUDER?

    The Amulet LAAO procedure carries risks which include, but are not limited to: air bubble that blocks blood flow in a vessel; allergic reaction; anesthesia reactions; nausea; confusion; injury to the airway; difficulty breathing; fainting; loss of regular heart rhythm; a hole in the wall (septum) that separates the heart’s upper chambers; bleeding; low blood count; heart suddenly stops beating; blood or fluid buildup around the heart or lung; chest pain and/ or discomfort; death; obstruction of a blood vessel by all or part of an implanted device that entered the bloodstream; device erosion; device failure; device in wrong position; movement of the device to other parts of the body; blood clot on the device; fever; high or low blood pressure; infection; multiple organ failure; heart attack; perforation of the heart muscle or vessels; heart failure; kidney failure; seizure; continued blood flow into the LAA; temporary or permanent stroke; blood clot, including in the heart, leg, or lung; abnormal backward flow of blood through a valve; injury to the incision site; groin pain; blood clot under the skin in the groin; injury to a blood vessel.

    WHAT ARE THE WARNINGS ASSOCIATED WITH THE AMPLATZER™ AMULET™ LAA OCCLUDER?

    Patients who are allergic to nickel may have an allergic reaction to this device, especially those with a history of metal allergies. Patients may develop a build-up of fluid or blood around the heart and should contact their physician if they experience chest pain or difficulty breathing after implant.

    Talk to your doctor to learn more about the risks associated with the Amplatzer™ Amulet™ LAA Occluder.

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MAT-2302755 v6.0  |   Item approved for U.S. use only.

Step 1

To implant the device, your doctor inserts a narrow tube into a vein in your upper leg.

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