Brain Protection During Heart Valve Closure Surgery for Irregular Heartbeat

This study is testing whether adding a special brain protection system during left atrial appendage occlusion—a minimally invasive procedure that closes a small pouch in the heart to prevent strokes—can reduce the risk of silent brain injury. The procedure itself is already used to prevent strokes in people with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat) who cannot safely take blood-thinning medications. Researchers want to see if this treatment can make the procedure even safer for your brain.

Although this procedure is effective and has a low risk of stroke during surgery, some patients experience silent strokes—small brain injuries that cause no obvious symptoms but may later lead to memory problems, thinking difficulties, or mood changes. This trial exists to find out whether adding brain protection during the procedure can prevent these silent strokes and protect your thinking and mental health long-term.