The Watchmen Device – As Reported on by Tampa Cardiovascular Associates

Posted by: Tampa Cardio

On: February 7, 2022

watchman device atrial fibrillation Tampa Cardio

Do you have atrial fibrillation?

Patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation have an electrical issue within the heart muscle itself in the upper chambers of the heart. When the heart is beating too rapidly it is fibrillating. This does not allow it to pump blood effectively. That blood can then coagulate, form blood clots in the left atrial appendage and that clotted blood can break loose and potentially cause a stroke or heart attack.

Patients who have atrial fibrillation are five times more likely to experience a stroke.

Statistically speaking, of those with atrial fibrillation, 5% will have a stroke at some point in their lives. This 5% is a very large number. We are talking about over 5 million people in the USA alone. That number is expected to double within the next 10 to 20 years.

“Gages are age, hypertension, diabetes, that is how we grade patients as to risk level for stroke.” says Tampa Cardio’s very own Dr. Sawar. He adds that this is where the Watchman Device is incredibly useful.

Many patients are unable to take blood thinners due to bleeding risks.  For them, the only real way to prevent a stroke is a device such as the Watchman implant. This can be a lifesaving device for those in a high-risk category.

You have a large vein in the groin that reaches all the way up to the heart. There is a small divider between the left and right sides of the heart called the left atrial appendage. We go in from the left atrium to the right atrium with a transseptal cross posterior and inferior. Once in the left atrium, we find the left atrial appendage which is on the side of that top chamber, and we get into that chamber and deploy the Watchman device. It gets covered over with a new layer of skin in approximately 45 days. It then becomes completely closed off and patients no longer need blood thinners.

Who is the idea Watchman Device Candidate?

  • Someone who is at high stroke risk
  • Those over 65
  • Those who have other risk factors for stroke on top of atrial fibrillation
  • Those with bleeding issues or even risk of bleeding

 

By reducing the risk of bleeding in the brain we can reduce the risk of cardio event mortality as well.

For more information on the Watchman Device and how Tampa Cardiovascular Associates can help you, visit The Watchman Device | Afib | Tampa Cardiovascular Doctors & Surgeons 813-975-2800 to call our office for an appointment.

 

 

Posted by: Tampa Cardio

On: 07/02/2022

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