Experts release stroke prevention guideline
A guideline on a stroke-prevention therapy, in line with international practice, to ensure patient safety, treatment effects and long-time management was released on Tuesday.
The guideline is on left atrial appendage occlusion, an effective preventative treatment for people with atrial fibrillation, a disease characterised by an abnormal heartbeat which affects about 10 million Chinese.
An English version will be issued later to make Chinese experts’ voice heard in the international cardiovascular disease field, said Dr He Ben of Shanghai Chest Hospital.
About 1 percent of people over 50 have atrial fibrillation and they have a five-times higher possibility of suffering a stroke.
Dr He said: “About 20 percent of strokes are caused by blood clots due to atrial fibrillation. Such strokes have a higher chance of relapse, mortality and disability compared with other kinds of stroke. Left atrial appendage occlusion, which was introduced to China in 2014, has been proved an effective prevention for strokes worldwide. However, there are confusions and discussions on the clinical practice of the treatment in China.”
Around 30 leading experts worked out the guideline to strictly regulate the process of the surgery, the kind of patients who could receive such treatment, after-surgery management, medication and technical directions.