LAA
Medical abbreviation · Cardiology
| Stands for | Left atrial appendage |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
LAA stands for Left atrial appendage, a cardiology abbreviation.
Small, ear-shaped pouch off the left atrium where blood stagnates during atrial fibrillation; it is the source of about 90 percent of clots in nonvalvular AF. Imaging the LAA by TEE is routine before cardioversion and ablation.
Example: TEE: no LAA thrombus, LAA emptying velocity 45 cm/s.
Usage notes
Its shape is described by morphologies such as "chicken wing," "windsock," "cactus" and "cauliflower," which may relate to stroke risk. Surgeons can close or remove the appendage during heart surgery, and the LAAOS III trial (2021) showed that doing so reduced stroke in patients with AF. Catheter-based closure devices are another option.
Related abbreviations
More cardiology abbreviations
- IVC – Inferior vena cava
- IVCD – Intraventricular conduction delay
- IVUS – Intravascular ultrasound
- JVD – Jugular venous distension
- JVP – Jugular venous pressure
- LA – Left atrium
- LAAO – Left atrial appendage occlusion
- LAD – Left anterior descending artery
- LAE – Left atrial enlargement
- LAFB – Left anterior fascicular block
- LBBB – Left bundle branch block
- LCx – Left circumflex artery
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.