Pison, Laurent (26642819800)Laurent (26642819800)PisonPotpara, Tatjana S. (57216792589)Tatjana S. (57216792589)PotparaChen, Jian (15769086600)Jian (15769086600)ChenLarsen, Torben B. (7202517549)Torben B. (7202517549)LarsenGrazia Bongiorni, Maria (7003657780)Maria (7003657780)Grazia BongiorniBlomström-Lundqvist, Carina (55941853900)Carina (55941853900)Blomström-LundqvistProclemer, Alessandro (7003317073)Alessandro (7003317073)ProclemerDagres, Nikolaos (7003639393)Nikolaos (7003639393)DagresEstner, Heidi (6506978495)Heidi (6506978495)EstnerHernández-Madrid, Antonio (57208118344)Antonio (57208118344)Hernández-MadridHocini, Mélèze (7005495090)Mélèze (7005495090)HociniSciaraffia, Elena (26039371800)Elena (26039371800)SciaraffiaTodd, Derick (7201388337)Derick (7201388337)ToddSavelieva, Irene (6701768664)Irene (6701768664)Savelieva2025-06-122025-06-122015https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euv069https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84926635204&doi=10.1093%2feuropace%2feuv069&partnerID=40&md5=d433a5a99170b6cd67868825d9fcdef3https://remedy.med.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/8254The purpose of this EP Wire was to assess the indications, techniques, and outcomes of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) in Europe. Thirty-three European centres, all members of the European Heart Rhythm Association electrophysiology (EP) research network, responded to this survey by completing the questionnaire. The major indication for LAAO (94%) was the prevention of stroke in patients at high thrombo-embolic risk (CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2) and contraindications to oral anticoagulants (OACs). Twenty-one (64%) of the responding centres perform LAAO in their own institution and 80% implanted 30 or less LAAO devices in 2014. Two-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography was the preferred imaging technique to visualize LAA before, during, and after LAAO in 79, 58, and 62% of the participating centres, respectively. Following LAAO, 49% of the centres prescribe vitamin K antagonists or novel OACs. Twenty-five per cent of the centres combine LAAO with pulmonary vein isolation. The periprocedural complications included death (range, 0-3%), ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke (0-25%), tamponade (0-25%), and device embolization (0-20%). In conclusion, this EP Wire has demonstrated that LAAO is most commonly employed in patients at high thrombo-embolic risk in whom OAC is contraindicated. The technique is not yet very widespread and the complication rates remain significant. © 2015 Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2015.AnticoagulationAtrial fibrillationEHRA surveyEP wireLeft atrial appendageOccluderOutcomeStroke