WATCHMAN

A one-time implant that helps reduce AFib stroke risk

CHI Memorial and The Chattanooga Heart Institute now offer WATCHMAN, a permanent implant that offers an alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners.
 

How does AFib increase stroke risk?

The average person with atrial fibrillation (also called AFib or AF) is five times more likely to have a stroke than someone with a regular heartbeat.1 That’s because when one is in atrial fibrillation the upper chamber is quivering instead of pumping.  The lower chamber which is the main pumping chamber is still pumping blood to the body normally.  The quivering in the upper chambers allows for the blood to coagulate or connect together and form a clot. Most of these clots form in a structure called the left atrial appendage (LAA). If a blood clot forms, it can escape from the LAA and go to anywhere in the body.  If it goes to the brain, it can cause a stroke.

Learn more about atrial fibrillation and stroke risk

In people with atrial fibrillation not caused by heart valve problems (the most common type of AFib), more than 90% of stroke-causing clots that come from the heart are formed in the LAA.³  

Reducing AFib stroke risk

Blood thinners, also called anticoagulants, are an effective way to lower the risk of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation not caused by heart valve problems.⁵

But some people need an alternative to blood thinners, because they can increase the risk of bleeding.⁵ Some bleeding events are minor and easily treated, like a cut taking longer than normal to stop bleeding. In other cases, the bleeding can be life-threatening, such as when bleeding in the brain causes a stroke.

If you have a history of bleeding or a lifestyle, occupation or condition that puts you at risk for bleeding, your doctor may consider an alternative to blood thinners, such as the WATCHMAN Implant.
 

An alternative to blood thinners

WATCHMAN is a permanent implant that offers an alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners. It’s about the size of a quarter and made from very light and compact materials commonly used in many other medical implants.

How WATCHMAN works

WATCHMAN effectively reduces the risk of stroke by permanently closing off the LAA to keep blood clots from escaping. WATCHMAN can eliminate the bleeding risks, regular blood tests, and food and drink restrictions that come with taking an anticoagulant. In a clinical trial, 96% of people were able to stop taking blood thinners just 45 days after the WATCHMAN procedure.⁶

How is WATCHMAN implanted?

WATCHMAN is implanted into your heart in a one-time procedure. To implant WATCHMAN, your doctor makes a small cut in your upper leg and inserts a narrow tube, as done in a standard stent procedure. Your doctor then guides WATCHMAN into your heart’s LAA. The procedure is done under general anesthesia and takes about an hour. Patients commonly stay in the hospital overnight and leave the next day. 

After the procedure

Following the WATCHMAN procedure, you’ll take your regular anticoagulant for 45 days or until your LAA is significantly closed off.  During this time, heart tissue will grow over the implant to form a barrier against blood clots. Your doctor will monitor this process by taking pictures of your heart to see when you can stop taking your anticoagulant.  

In a clinical trial:

• 96% of people were able to stop taking blood thinners just 45 days after the WATCHMAN procedure.⁶

Is WATCHMAN right for you?

If you have a history of bleeding or a lifestyle, occupation or condition that puts you at risk for bleeding, WATCHMAN may be right for you. But like any medical procedure, WATCHMAN comes with risks, so it isn’t right for everyone. Your cardiologist will weigh your risk of a stroke against your risk of a serious bleeding problem to determine the right treatment for you.

Take the WATCHMAN Assessment to see if WATCHMAN is right for you.

Hear from a WATCHMAN Patient