Watchman
Watch out and we're not fibbing... 'Watchman' may not meet expectations - HWN
image by: Prisma Health
HWN Suggests
Say No to Watchman
Cardiology is on the brink of making a big mistake. We have embraced a new procedure called left atrial appendage occlusion.
The appendage-closure idea was a good one: during atrial fibrillation (AF), blood can pool in the left atrial appendage, and this promotes clot formation. (The LA appendage has many nooks and crannies.) So… if we could put a device in there, see image, this would block clots from getting out and causing stroke. Also, once the device has been in for months, the body walls it off and the patient can stop the anticoagulant drug (warfarin, or one of the new drugs, called NOACs).
Here is the problem: The Watchman device does not prevent strokes. When compared…
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Still Negative on Watchman
Two studies published in 2018, one from Watchman investigators, and the other from independent French researchers, found high rates of device-related thrombus on follow-up echocardiograms (Translation: clot stuck to the device). This is not surprising since the Watchman is a foreign body left in the heart. This data also helps explain why, in the Watchman vs warfarin trials, ischemic stroke (due to blockages) rates were HIGHER in the watchman arm.
Cardiologist questions use of Boston Scientific Watchman device
“The device is FDA-approved and research suggests it is effective in reducing stroke in people who cannot take blood thinners,” Becker wrote. “The downside: expense, potential complications, and spiraling use as the device begins to be implanted for questionable indications.
Left Atrial Appendage Closure – The WATCHMAN Device
The left atrial appendage is the major source of thrombus formation in patients with non-valvular AF. The WATCHMAN device (Boston Scientific, MA) is a percutaneous left atrial appendage closure device which has been tested prospectively in multiple randomized trials. It offers a new stroke risk reduction option for high-risk patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who are seeking an alternative to long-term warfarin therapy.
Reducing Stroke Risk In Atrial Fibrillation – Clip The Left Atrial Appendage
This procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic. The surgeon uses a specially designed device like the Atriclip to place a secure clip onto the outside of the LAA using a minimally invasive camera under telescopic vision. The procedure usually takes 15 to 30 minutes and has a much higher success rate than the Watchman Device (and other such similar devices).
Watchman vs. Blood Thinners: Alternatives for Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
New implant technology designed to thwart stroke shows promise for patients with atrial fibrillation who cannot take anticoagulants. Here’s what potential recipients need to know.
What Is A Watchman Device?
In the Watchman trials, the risk of stroke after receiving a Watchman device is overall similar, or non-inferior in clinical trial terms, when it was compared to warfarin for stroke risk reduction. The risk of stroke does not become zero, but it is equivalent to being on a blood thinner but without the major bleeding risks. It does, however, significantly improve a patient’s risk of stroke compared to not taking any blood thinners at all.
What is the WATCHMAN™ device?
The WATCHMAN™ left atrial appendage (LAA) closure implant is a permanent heart implant used to treat atrial fibrillation (afib) not caused by a heart valve problem.
Say No to Watchman
Cardiology is on the brink of making a big mistake. We have embraced a new procedure called left atrial appendage occlusion.
Watchman
AFib doesn’t have to mean a lifetime of blood thinners. WATCHMAN is a one‑time, minimally invasive procedure that reduces stroke risk and bleeding worry for life.
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