Helping Your Heartbeat: Treat AFib and Prevent Stroke with the WATCHMAN® Procedure

If you or a loved one is living with atrial fibrillation (AFib) and looking for an alternative to blood thinners, cardiologists at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital can help. The WATCHMAN^® procedure offers a safe and lasting way to lower your risk of having a stroke when you have AFib.

Advanced treatment for stroke prevention

AFib causes your heart to beat too fast or unevenly, which can lead to blood clots. These clots can travel to the brain and cause a stroke.

Blood thinners can help prevent clots, but they aren’t right for everyone. For patients who need another option, AHN Saint Vincent’s cardiologists offer the WATCHMAN^® implant. This small device seals off the part of the heart where most stroke-causing clots form.

“Long-term blood thinners can cause serious side effects in some patients,” said Francesco Santoni, MD, cardiologist at AHN Saint Vincent. “The WATCHMAN^® procedure offers an alternative way to prevent a stroke for patients with AFib that are at risk of bleeding or falling.”

What to expect with WATCHMAN^® at AHN Saint Vincent

Before surgery

To determine if you are a candidate, doctors will review your AFib history and assess your bleeding and stroke risk. If the WATCHMAN^® procedure is right for you, a cardiologist at AHN Saint Vincent will guide you through how to prepare and manage your medications before surgery.

During the procedure

The minimally invasive procedure takes about 30-45 minutes. You’ll be under general anesthesia, so you’ll be asleep the whole time and won’t feel anything.

During the procedure, your doctor will:

• Place a WATCHMAN^® implant in your heart’s left atrium, to block it off and prevent blood clotting using a vein in your leg.
• In some cases, perform ablation, which uses gentle electricity to treat the heart cells causing AFib. 

The WATCHMAN^® device is designed to stay in your heart permanently and becomes integrated with the heart tissue as it heals.

After surgery

You’ll stay in the hospital for a few hours before going home to recover. Your doctors will talk with you about how to safely return to your routine over the next few weeks.

Your doctor will schedule follow-up visits — usually within two months, and then again at six months, one year, and two years after the procedure to make sure the device is working and to check your overall heart health.

Lasting protection for your heart

Cardiologists at AHN Saint Vincent Hospital are proud to offer advanced treatment solutions to help you manage your AFib, prevent stroke, and live a healthier life. Reach out to the cardiology team to explore whether WATCHMAN^® is right for you.