Blessing Health System issued the following announcement on Oct. 29.
Under the leadership of Blessing Physician Services cardiologist and electrophysiologist, Dr. John Hammock, members of the Blessing Heart & Vascular Center team performed the health system’s first three “WATCHMAN” procedures on Wednesday, October 28.
WATCHMAN can benefit people with atrial fibrillation who need an alternative to blood thinners. AFib is an irregular heart rhythm that can cause strokes and heart failure and can increase the risk of dementia.
Many people with non-valvular AFib take blood thinners to reduce their risk of blood clots and stroke. However, taking blood thinners is associated with the risk of potentially life-threatening bleeding.
For those patients who cannot take blood thinners, the new WATCHMAN procedure can be a life-changer. The size of a quarter and shaped like a parachute, the WATCHMAN device closes off the left atrial appendage (LAA) of the heart to reduce the risk for blood clot formation and subsequent stroke in patients with non-valvular AFib. This allows people to eventually stop their blood thinner.
For more information on the WATCHMAN procedure, go to https://www.blessinghealth.org/watchman
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