Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Versus Novel Oral Anticoagulation for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation

This trial is comparing two ways to prevent strokes in people who have an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation: taking blood thinning pills long-term versus having a small procedure to close off a part of the heart (called the left atrial appendage) where dangerous blood clots can form. **You may be eligible if...** - You are 18 years old or older - You have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat) - You qualify for long-term blood thinning medication - You had a stroke within the past 6 months, or a mini-stroke (TIA) within the past 6 months confirmed by a brain scan **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You have significant disability from a prior stroke (difficulty with everyday activities) - Your kidneys are functioning very poorly - You cannot take aspirin long-term - You have another heart procedure planned at the same time - You have a terminal illness or cancer with a life expectancy of less than 2 years Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.