124 - CCS/ACC PLENARY: PLUGGING THE GAP: THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF LAA OCCLUSION

Thursday, October 23, 2025

11:15am - 12:15pm ET

Room:302AB

Target Audience: Electrophysiologists, Structural Interventional Team Members, Heart Failure Specialists, Echocardiologists, Clinical Cardiologists

Co-Chair(s)

Sean Virani, MD MSc MPH (he/him/his)

President
Canadian Cardiovascular Society
St. Paul's Hospital | Providence Health Care
Edward Fry, MD

Chair, National Cardiovascular Service Line
Ascension Health
American College of Cardiology

Moderator(s)

Anil Gupta, MD, FRCPC

Cardiologist
Trillium Health Partners
Laurie-Anne Boivin Proulx, MD MSc FRCPC (she/her/hers)

Interventional Cardiology Fellow
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
University of Ottawa Heart Institute

Presenter(s)

Jacqueline Saw, MD, FRCPC (she/her/hers)

Clinical Professor
CAIC
University of British Columbia
JM

John Mandrola
Dylan Stanger, MD (he/him/his)

Cardiologist/Interventional Echocardiographer
Trillium Health Partners
University of Toronto
Jeff Healey, MD, MSc, FRCPC, FHRS

Electrophysiologist
McMaster University
McMaster Unviersity

Planning Committee Member(s)

Laurie-Anne Boivin-Proulx, MD MSc (she/her/hers)

Interventional Cardiology Fellow
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Filio Billia, MD, PhD (she/her/hers)

Clinician-Scientist
University Health Network (UHN)
William McIntyre, MD PhD FRCPC (he/him/his)

Assistant Professor
McMaster University
McMaster Unversity
Anil Gupta, MD, FRCPC

Cardiologist
Trillium Health Partners

Looking for more information on this topic? Check out this collection of articles from CCS journals.

This session will explore cutting-edge topics in stroke prevention, left atrial appendage occlusion devices, and preprocedural imaging strategies. Featuring expert insights, evidence-based reviews, and interactive Q&A segments, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of advancements in thrombosis management, interventional cardiology, and echocardiographic techniques. The session is designed to foster collaboration and provide actionable solutions for improving patient outcomes in cardiovascular care.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session participants will be able to:

evaluate bleeding risks and management strategies in stroke prevention using NOACs;
analyze current evidence surrounding left atrial appendage occlusion devices and their clinical implications;
discuss the challenges and opportunities in translating cardiovascular research into practice; and
apply preprocedural imaging techniques (TTE/TEE) to optimize outcomes in structural heart interventions.