Our Approach to Care
The Watchman™ is an implant available for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) who must take blood thinners to prevent blood clots and stroke.
AFib is a common irregular heart rhythm that can allow blood clots to form in the heart. This is especially common in the left atrial appendage (LAA), which is the pouch attached to the left upper chamber of the heart. As a result, people with AFib are five to seven times more likely to have a stroke than the general population.
The most common treatment to reduce stroke risk in patients with AFib are blood-thinning medications, such as Warfarin. Despite its effectiveness, long-term use of this therapy carries a significant risk for bleeding complications. It is often not well-tolerated by some patients.
The Watchman implant is designed to close off the LAA to keep harmful blood clots from entering the bloodstream. This reduces the chance of a blood clot causing a stroke. The implant is about the size of a quarter. It is placed in the heart through a catheter (through a vein in the leg). Over time, patients are able to stop taking Warfarin anticoagulation therapy.