Left Atrial Appendage

The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a small pouch in the heart, a key site for blood clot formation in patients with atrial fibrillation, significantly increasing stroke risk. Current research focuses on developing accurate and automated methods for LAA segmentation and analysis from medical images (CT, MRI, echocardiograms) using deep learning techniques, including convolutional neural networks and geometric deep learning, to improve the quantification of LAA shape and its association with thrombosis risk. These advancements aim to improve pre-procedural planning for LAA occlusion, a procedure to reduce stroke risk, and ultimately enhance patient care by providing more precise and efficient risk assessment.