WATCHMAN:
​A One-Time Implant that Helps Reduce AFib Stroke Risk

How Does Atrial Fibrillation Increase Stroke Risk?
The average person with Atrial Fibrillation (also called AFib or AF) is five times more likely to have a stroke than someone with a regular heartbeat. That’s because AFib can decrease the heart’s pumping capacity by as much as 30% because blood isn’t pumped out of the heart normally, it’s easier for blood cells to stick together and form clots in an area of the heart called the Left Atrial Appendage (LAA). When a blood clot escapes from the LAA and travels to another part of the body, it can cut off the blood supply to the brain, causing a stroke.

​Learn more about atrial fibrillation and stroke risk.

In people with Atrial Fibrillation not caused by heart valve problems (the most common type of AFib), more than 90% of stroke-causing clots that come from the heart are formed in the Left Atrial Appendage (LAA).  

Learn more about types of AFib, symptoms and risks, and treatment for Afib.

Reducing AFib Stroke Risk
Blood thinners, also called Anticoagulants, are an effective way to lower the risk of stroke in people with Atrial Fibrillation not caused by heart valve problems. Common blood thinners include warfarin (also known as Coumadin®), Eliquis®, Pradaxa®, Xarelto® and Savaysa®.

Some people need an alternative to blood thinners, because they can increase the risk of bleeding. 

Most ​bleeding events are minor and easily treated, like a cut taking longer than normal to stop bleeding. In other cases, the bleeding can be life-threatening, such as when bleeding in the brain causes a stroke. 

If you have a history of bleeding or a lifestyle, occupation or condition that puts you at risk for bleeding, your doctor may consider an alternative to blood thinners, such as the WATCHMAN Implant.

An Alternative to Blood Thinners
WATCHMAN is a permanent implant that offers an alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners. It’s about the size of a quarter and made from very light and compact materials commonly used in many other medical implants. 

How WATCHMAN Works
WATCHMAN effectively reduces the risk of stroke by permanently closing off the LAA to keep blood clots from escaping. WATCHMAN can eliminate the bleeding risks and regular blood tests and food-and-drink restrictions that come with warfarin. In a clinical trial, 9 out of 10 people were able to stop taking warfarin just 45 days after the WATCHMAN procedure.

How is WATCHMAN Implanted?
WATCHMAN is implanted into your heart in a one-time procedure. To implant WATCHMAN, your doctor makes a small cut in your upper leg and inserts a narrow tube, as done in a standard stent procedure. Your doctor then guides WATCHMAN into your hearts Left Atrial Appendage (LAA). The procedure is done under general anesthesia and takes about an hour. Patients commonly stay in the hospital overnight and leave the next day.

Is WATCHMAN Procedure Right for you?
​ Our Interventional Team can discuss with you the potential risks and benefits and help decide if this procedure is right for you.
To schedule an appointment to discuss Atrial Fibrillation or other conditions.  
Please call us at (951) 734-4880 for an appointment. .
 

In a clinical trial:
92% of patients were able to stop taking warfarin just 45 days after the procedure
99% of patients were able to stop taking warfarin within 1 year after the procedure