WATCHMAN

An Alternative to Blood Thinners
The WATCHMAN™ left atrial appendage closure device is a new, one-time procedure that effectively reduces the risk of stroke in patients with AFib not caused by a heart valve problem. Patients with AFib have an increased risk of having a stroke. An alternative to long-term blood thinners like Warfarin, WATCHMAN™ permanently closes off the part of the heart where blood clots commonly form.


A Minimally Invasive Procedure
Our experts make a small puncture in your femoral vein and insert a narrow tube. The WATCHMAN™ implant is then guided through the tube and placed into your left atrial appendage. After the procedure, you will take blood thinners until your left atrial appendage is permanently closed off. This takes about 45 days, which allows for enough tissue to grow around the WATCHMAN™ implant to form a barrier against blood clots.


Faster Healing, Shorter Hospital Stays

• Provides a permanent solution for patients that need an alternative to blood thinners
• Minimally invasive procedure with less scarring, faster healing time and a shorter hospital stay than open-heart surgery
• Effectively reduces the risk of stroke for patients with AFib

Clinical Outcomes With WATCHMAN™
In a clinical trial, nine of 10 people were able to stop taking Warfarin just 45 days after getting WATCHMAN™. At one year, 99 percent of people were able to stop taking Warfarin1. This procedure can lower the risk of bleeding associated with the long-term use of such blood thinners.

Expert Care for Your Patients
Carle Heart and Vascular Institute is one of the only facilities in the region providing the life-saving WATCHMAN™ technology to patients. Our heart surgeons, interventional cardiologists, cardiac electrophysiologists, anesthesiologists, echocardiographers and cath lab staff work together to evaluate patients and ensure the best outcomes. 

We are currently accepting referrals for patients who are potential candidates for the WATCHMAN™ procedure. If you  have AFibnot caused by a heart valve problem and need a long-term alternative to blood thinners due to increased bleeding risk, you may qualify for the procedure.