Thromboembolus from a ligated left atrial appendage

The left atrial appendage of patients with mitral valve disease is commonly a source of thromboembolus and is often ligated during mitral Faire surger y to diminish this risk. However Ligation is often incomplete. We describe a patient with a stroke whose only source of embolus was an incompletely li gated left atrial appendage. Attempts to exclude the left atrial appendage from the arterial circulation by suture ligation may not decrease the risk of thromboemboli and instead may increase such risk.