St. Francis-Emory Performs First WATCHMAN Procedure

St. Francis-Emory Healthcare performed its first patient implant of the new WATCHMAN FLX™ Pro Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) Device. This latest LAAC technology is designed to reduce stroke risk and serve as an alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners for people with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem (also known as non-valvular AF or NVAF). 

Built upon the proven safety and procedural performance of the WATCHMAN FLX™ LAAC Device, the WATCHMAN FLX Pro device features a permanent polymer coating (HEMOCOAT™ technology) that is designed to reduce the risk of device-related thrombus, visualization markers for enhanced placement and a broader size matrix to treat a wider range of patients.

Seven million Americans are estimated to be affected by AF – an irregular heartbeat that can feel like a quivering heart. People with AF have a five times greater risk of stroke than those with normal heart rhythms. The WATCHMAN FLX Pro device closes off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA) to keep harmful blood clots that can form in the LAA from entering the blood stream and potentially causing a stroke. By closing off the LAA, the risk of stroke may be reduced and, over time, patients may be able to stop taking their blood thinner. 

About Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart condition where the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat too fast and with irregular rhythm (fibrillation). AF is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, currently affecting up to six million Americans. Stroke is the most common complication of AF, and AF-related strokes are also more frequently fatal and disabling. In people with non- valvular AF, more than 90% of all stroke-causing clots that come from the heart form in the LAA.

The most common treatment to reduce stroke risk in patients with AF is blood-thinning medication. While very effective at reducing the risk of stroke, blood thinners increase the risk of serious bleeding over time and come with certain requirements and restrictions.