LARIAT Procedure

Atrial fibrillation or Afib can cause blood clots to form and lead to a much higher risk of stroke. Doctors often use blood thinners, such as Coumadin, to prevent strokes. However, blood-thinning medications can cause serious bleeding complications; and when blood thinners don’t work, open-heart surgery may be recommended.

With the LARIAT procedure, your doctor threads a catheter with a lasso-shaped suture to the heart. The suture is then used to seal off the left upper chamber. This keeps blood clots from leaving the chamber and causing a stroke. Unlike traditional surgical treatments, the LARIAT procedure is completed through small punctures in the skin, so there is a shorter recovery time and less risk of complications.

Along with offering you innovations such as the LARIAT procedure, Mercy is dedicated to providing you with compassionate and complete care – from diagnosis and treatment through recovery and rehab.