LAUSR

We read with interest the study by Johnsrud et al. The authors retrospectively examined outcomes in a cohort of patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing surgical left atrial appendage (LAA) exclusion during cardiac surgery. The authors aimed to evaluate the long-term effect of LAA exclusion on oral anticoagulation (OAC) prescription and stroke. They evaluated 91 patients who, during surgery, underwent LAA exclusion and matched them to patients who did not. The final analysis included only 62 pairs, matched on 16 pre-treatment variables, and demonstrated no significant difference in OAC prescription and stroke at discharge and at 5 years.(1).