Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Closure Procedure
What is the left atrial appendage?
The left atrial appendage is a small sac-like extension of the left atrium or upper part of the heart. Atrial fibrillation patients may have blood pool in the left atrial appendage which may cause a blood clot to form and travel throughout the body and
possibly cause a stroke.
Left atrial appendage closure
The WATCHMAN procedure and left atrial appendage closure device is a first-of-its-kind, proven alternative to commonly-used blood thinner warfarin to prevent stoke in patients with atrial fibrillation or an
abnormal heart beat.
The WATCHMAN implant device is about the size of a quarter and shaped like a parachute. It is implanted into the heart to close off the left atrial appendage (LAA), a blind pouch of heart tissue to prevent blood clots from forming and causing a stroke.
The device is inserted into the heart through a catheter placed into a vein in the leg during a one-time, minimally invasive procedure. By closing off the LAA, patient’s risk of stroke is reduced and it may probably over time allow them to stop
taking warfarin.
÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥'s Expertise
÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ cardiologists have extensive experience with the device and placed the second device in the United States during clinical trials testing in 2005. The recently published results of these trials showed a 60 percent reduction in cardiovascular mortality
and a 34 percent reduction in all-cause mortality in patients treated with the device.
The FDA approved the use of device on March 13, 2015. ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ cardiologists performed the Midwest’s first commercial implant of the WATCHMAN device on March 25, 2015. Currently, ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ provides patients two different implants for closing off
the left atrial appendage: Watchman or Amulet.
Are you a candidate for a left atrial appendage closure device?
If you answer yes to the questions below, the left atrial appendage closure device and WATCHMAN procedure may be the right choice for you:
- Have you ever been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem?
- Are you currently taking or have you considered taking warfarin or other anticoagulant medication? (sold under brand names of Pradaxa, Eliquis, Xarelto, Savaysa, Jantoven or Coumadin)
- Do you have a reason (bleeding, lifestyle, occupation or frequent falling) to look for a safe alternative to long-term use of a blood thinner that will provide a comparable reduction in risk of stroke?
If you did answer yes to these questions, you may be a candidate for the WATCHMAN procedure and should consult your .