Atrial fibrillation, also called AFib or AF, is a heart condition characterized by the irregular beating (cardiac arrhythmia) of the upper chambers (atria), leading to blood pooling and an increased risk of clot formation in the area. These clots can travel through the bloodstream, block the blood supply to the brain and cause a stroke. Strokes can take away a person’s vision, ability to speak or walk and, in some cases, death.

About 15-20% of stroke patients have this kind of heart arrhythmia. Patients with AFib are often prescribed blood thinners, such as anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs, to mitigate this risk. However, prolonged use of blood thinning medications carries an increased risk of bleeding. The WATCHMAN^TM device implant offers a minimally invasive option for those with non-valvular AFib who need an alternative to blood thinners. A non-valvular AFib is a type of atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem.

How the WATCHMAN^TM Works

While blood thinners reduce the risk of stroke in people with AFib, these medications can also prevent clotting in locations and situations where clot formation is desirable. Clotting helps the body protect itself from infection in damaged skin or blood vessels. The WATCHMAN^TM device is an FDA-approved implant made from very light and compact materials about the size of a quarter that permanently closes off the left atrial appendage to reduce the risk of stroke and provide long-term anticoagulation therapy cessation.

Who Can Undergo the WATCHMAN^TM Implant?

The WATCHMAN^TM device implant is recommended for people who have non-valvular atrial fibrillation and who are potential candidates for blood thinners. Although taking blood thinning medications is the standard treatment for non-valvular atrial fibrillation, some people cannot take them. According to the WATCHMAN website, as a permanent procedure, the implant does not have the same bleeding risks associated with the long-term use of blood thinners.

Like any surgery, the WATCHMAN procedure comes with risks. Do not make changes to your AFib treatment plan unless instructed by your cardiologist.

The WATCHMAN^TM Implant Procedure

In a WATCHMAN^TM device implant procedure, doctors make a small cut in the patient's upper leg and insert a narrow tube that guides the WATCHMAN^TM device into the left atrial appendage. The WATCHMAN procedure requires general anesthesia and takes less than an hour to complete. Patients who undergo the WATCHMAN procedure usually stay in the hospital overnight and leave the next day.

Patients may be asked to take blood-thinning medications following the procedure for up to 45 days or until the left atrial appendage is permanently closed off. During this process, a barrier of heart tissue will form over the WATCHMAN device implant to protect against blood clots. Monitoring this process involves taking images of the patient's heart to check whether it is safe to wean the patient off from blood thinners. However, some patients may need blood thinners for six months or longer.

How Effective Is the WATCHMAN Device?

As the WATCHMAN website explains, some people may be able to discontinue taking blood thinners immediately after the WATCHMAN procedure. However, in a clinical trial, 96% of people were able to stop taking blood thinners 45 days after the WATCHMAN procedure.

Why the WATCHMAN Implant Reduces Stroke Risk?

A non-valvular AFib causes blood clots from the heart to form in the left atrial appendage (LAA). The WATCHMAN device implant is designed to fit right into the LAA and permanently close off this part of the heart, keeping blood clots from traveling to the brain and causing a stroke.

Find a Cardiologist in Rock Hill

Would you like to learn more about your stroke risk due to AFib or the WATCHMAN device implant procedure? At Piedmont Medical Center in Rock Hill, we have made it easier for you to take charge of your heart health and make important healthcare decisions.

Heart care is better together. Let us help you navigate your journey to a healthier heart. Please call or text our Watchman Coordinator (803-448-3252), call our Structural Heart Coordinator (803-323-6982) or find a cardiologist near your location. If it's an emergency, such as a heart attack, cardiac arrest or stroke, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Please don't delay care.