Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, is a common type of irregular heartbeat. Electrical impulses in the top chambers of the heart become extremely rapid and chaotic.

an irregular heartbeat causes stagnation of blood in the left atrium, one of the chambers of the heart. A small sac in the left atrium, called the left atrial appendage, harbors most of the clots from AFib.

Ninety percent of AFib strokes are caused by clots in the left atrial appendage that travel to the brain.

Treatment with blood thinners

People with AFib are commonly prescribed blood thinners to prevent strokes. However, not everyone can tolerate the blood thinners required for stroke prevention.

The WATCHMAN™ device protects against stroke by blocking off the left atrial appendage. It prevents large clot formation in the left atrium, providing an alternative to blood thinners. WATCHMAN™ is a one-time procedure with a proven safety record.

“Patients on blood thinners must change their lifestyle to prevent excessive bleeding. Even with a hobby like gardening, they must be careful because a small cut can become troublesome,” says Kettering Health interventional cardiologist Dr. Raja Nazir. “For patients who have complications with blood thinners, the WATCHMAN™ is a life-changing device.”

Watchman: an alternative

The minimally invasive procedure only takes about an hour and implants the device through a small puncture in the groin under general anesthesia. Patients remain in the hospital for 23 hours for observation.

Upon returning home, patients must avoid heavy lifting for three days. Afterward, they can resume their normal activities.

After 45 days, the doctor ensures the WATCHMAN™ is positioned properly. Typically, prescribed blood thinners can stop after this appointment. From there, only daily aspirin is needed.

“After implanting the WATCHMAN™, the patient’s risk of stroke is the same or lower than those who take blood thinners,” said Dr. Nazir. “Additionally, patients with the WATCHMAN™ have a lower risk of excessive bleeding; fewer prescription costs; and lower risk of hemorrhagic stroke, which is often fatal, compared to patients on blood thinners.”

Dr. Nazir and the Kettering Health Heart & Vascular team have been implanting the WATCHMAN™ device since 2016 and implanted their 100th WATCHMAN™ device in 2019.

Schedule an appointment with your cardiologist to determine if you are a candidate for the WATCHMAN™ device.