Saint Barnabas Medical Center (SBMC) has recently completed their 200th Watchman procedure, treating patients with Atrial Fibrillation, or AFib. AFib is a cardiovascular disease that affects the heart’s ability to pump blood normally. This can cause blood to pool in an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage, or LAA. There, blood cells can stick together and form a clot. If that clot embolizes, it can cut off the blood supply to the brain, causing a stroke.
To reduce the risk of a stroke, most patients with AFib are treated with blood thinning medications. Until recently, there was no FDA-approved alternative to blood thinners for patients who are unable to tolerate the medication long-term. “The average person with AFib is about five times more likely to suffer a stroke than someone with a regular heartbeat,” says David Dobesh, MD, Cardiac Electrophysiologist, SBMC.
Since 2017, Saint Barnabas Medical Center has been treating these patients with the Watchman. This device is about the size of a quarter, and is composed of a self-expanding, nickel-titanium frame, with a polyester fabric cover. “The Watchman has been a game changer in how we treat AFib. It reduces the risk of stroke without the increasing risk of bleeding from blood thinners,” Dr. Dobesh continues.
The Watchman is implanted into the patient’s heart through a catheter inserted through a vein in the groin. It covers the opening of the LAA, and the heart grows its own new tissue over the device over the next 45 days to create a permanent seal, preventing blood from pooling and forming clots there. The procedure is done under general anesthesia and takes about an hour. Patients commonly stay in the hospital overnight and leave the next day.
“The recovery is very quick, and most patients will be back to normal that week,” Dr. Dobesh says. Patients are required to remain on blood thinners for 45 days, until the Watchman has permanently sealed the LAA. A follow-up echocardiogram or CT scan will be performed to confirm the appendage is sealed properly. The device is permanent, and never needs to be replaced.
As a world-class cardiac program, Saint Barnabas Medical Center provides immediate access to highly sophisticated treatment options. SBMC continues to provide the state’s premiere transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) program with outcomes that far exceed national benchmarks in safety, life expectancy and risks of complications. Plus, SBMC’s Atrial Fibrillation Center uses the most advanced treatment options – including Watchman – to manage symptoms, reduce the risk of stroke and restore normal rhythm in the heart.
To find out more about Cardiac Services available at Saint Barnabas Medical Center, please call 973.322.5244 or visit www.rwjbh.org/heart.