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Approximately 25% of all ischemic insults are caused by cardiac emboli in atrial fibrillation. Therefore, in patients with atrial fibrillation, oral anticoagulation is initiated or transesophageal echocardiography is performed before electroconversion to exclude blood clots in the heart. This shows that virtually all cardiac thrombi (>90%) are localized in the atrial ear. Therefore, for many decades surgeons have been removing the atrial tube during open heart surgery to eliminate it as a source of emboli. As a minimally invasive alternative, various screens for percutaneous closure of the atrial ear have been developed in the past 10–20 years. The requirements, techniques, and results will be discussed in the following article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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