Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.
What is a left atrial appendage closure? —
The left atrial appendage, or "LAA," is a small hollow pouch off the left atrium (figure 1). An LAA closure blocks off this pouch and prevents blood from pooling there (figure 2). This lowers the chance of a blood clot forming in the LAA and causing a stroke.
How long it takes for you to recover, and what you need to do, depends on how your LAA was closed and any other procedures you had. If you had a percutaneous closure, you might be able to return to your normal activities sooner. If you had a surgical closure, it usually takes longer to recover.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also:
●Take all your medicines as instructed.
•You might need to continue taking medicines to prevent blood clots for a period of time. Do not stop taking them until your doctor tells you to.
•Use a stool softener to help prevent constipation, if needed. This is a common problem if you take opioid pain medicines. Follow all instructions for taking your pain medicines.
•Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve). You can take these instead of opioids.
●Take care of your incision – You might have stitches, skin staples, surgical glue, or a special skin tape on your incision. You might have more than 1 incision.
•Keep your incision dry and covered with a bandage for the first 1 to 2 days. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep it dry.
•Once you no longer need to keep your incision dry, gently wash it with soap and water whenever you take a shower. Do not put it underwater, such as in a bath, pool, or lake. This can slow healing and raise your chance of getting an infection.
•After you wash your incision, pat it dry. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to put an antibiotic ointment on it. They will also tell you if you need to cover it with a bandage or gauze.
•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your incision or bandage.
●Increase your activity slowly – Start with short walks around your home, and walk a little more each day.
•If you have an incision in your chest, it is important to keep coughing and doing deep breathing exercises for 7 to 10 days after you go home. This helps prevent lung infections. When you cough, sneeze, or do deep breathing exercises, press a pillow across your incision to support the wound and ease pain.
•Avoid heavy lifting, sports, and swimming for at least a week or 2. Your doctor or nurse will tell you when you can go back to your normal activities. This includes things like driving, work, exercise, and sex.
●Eat when you are hungry – If you have an upset stomach, it might help to start with clear liquids and foods that are easy to digest, like soup, pudding, toast, or eggs. You can eat other types of foods when you feel ready. If your doctor or nurse gave you specific instructions about what to eat or avoid, follow them.
What follow-up care do I need? —
The doctor will want to see you again to check on your progress. Go to these appointments.
If you have staples or stitches that need to be removed, your doctor will usually want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. Some stitches absorb on their own and do not need to be removed. If the doctor used skin glue or skin tape, it will fall off on its own. Do not pick at it or try to remove it yourself.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you think you might be having a heart attack or stroke.
Symptoms of a heart attack might include:
●Severe chest pain, pressure, or discomfort with:
•Trouble breathing, sweating, upset stomach, or cold and clammy skin
•Pain in your arms, back, or jaw
•Worse pain with activity like walking up stairs
●Fast or irregular heartbeat
●Feeling dizzy, faint, or weak
Symptoms of a stroke might include:
●Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on 1 side of the body
●Confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding
●Trouble seeing in 1 or both eyes
●Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
●Severe headache with no known cause
Call for advice if you:
●Have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills
●Have bleeding, pus, pain, redness, or swelling around your incision
●Had a percutaneous closure, and:
•The area where the tube went in bleeds a lot.
•You have pain, numbness or tingling, swelling, or redness near where the tube went in.
•Your leg or hand is weak or numb.
Patient education: Left atrial appendage closure (The Basics)
Patient education: Atrial fibrillation (The Basics)
Patient education: Anticoagulant medicines – Uses and kinds (The Basics)
Patient education: How to take anticoagulants safely (The Basics)
