**Understanding Surgical Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion** Surgical left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a procedure often considered to prevent complications such as ischemic strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). Traditionally, this procedure is recommended for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition marked by irregular heartbeats. However, recent studies challenge the utility of LAAO in…