Hamilton Medical Center (HMC) recently marked its 100th WATCHMAN procedure, a minimally invasive surgery that closes off a small part of the heart where blood clots can form in patients with certain conditions.
The WATCHMAN device is implanted through a procedure designed to reduce stroke risk for people with atrial fibrillation (AF) not caused by a heart valve problem. AF is a heart condition where the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly and too fast, causing the potential for blood clots that can lead to a stroke.
According to the CDC, strokes or “brain attacks” occur when something blocks blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Strokes can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability and sometimes death.
People with atrial fibrillation are at increased risk for stroke. An estimated seven million Americans are thought to be affected by AF – an irregular heartbeat that can feel like a quivering heart. People with AF have a five times greater risk of stroke than those with normal heart rhythms.
“Blood thinners are often used to treat AF, but over time they can increase the risk of serious bleeding. Most patients can eventually come off blood thinners after receiving a WATCHMAN device,” said Ateet Patel, MD. “I’m proud of our cardiology team’s life-changing work in this area, as it offers patients another option for living their best lives.”
A WATCHMAN surgery is a one-time procedure that typically takes an hour. Patients are typically discharged the next day. Various iterations of the WATCHMAN technology have been implanted to treat more than 300,000 patients worldwide.
Hamilton continues to encourage everyone to practice healthy habits to reduce stroke risk.
“Practical ways to reduce risk include eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in salt and trans fats,” said Meagan Darnell, RN, HMC neurosciences coordinator. “Getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption and not smoking are all tied to lower risks for stroke.”
