Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devices are sometimes used as an alternative preventative measure to help with stroke risk in patients who have atrial fibrillation arrhythmias and are unable to tolerate blood thinners like Warfarin.

Cardioembolic strokes in patients with atrial fibrillation typically happen in the left atrial appendage. They have high rates of recurrence and death. Because of this preventative measures must be taken. Although blood thinning medication can reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, this carries a risk of bleeding.

What is a Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device and how does it work?

The Watchman ™ Device is FDA approved. The Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device is a first-of-its-kind, proven alternative to long-term warfarin therapy for stroke risk reduction in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

The Watchman LAAC Device has been designed specifically for the left atrial appendage. Featuring an intra-LAA design to avoid contact with the left atrial wall, the Watchmen™ Device is engineered to:

* Conform to the unique anatomy of the LAA to reduce embolization risk

* Minimize the surface area facing the left atrium to reduce the risk of post-implant thrombus formation

During the evaluation of this product 2400 patients were tested over a total of 6,000 patient years of follow up. The device is now available in over 55 countries with over 10,000 implants performed.

The Watchman™ Device has made stroke prevention a reality for many who otherwise were lacking a viable option.

If you are a patient who may be a candidate for receiving the WATCHMAN Device give us a call at Tampa Cardiovascular Associates at 813-975-2800 www.TampaCardio.com