Summer 2022 7 A new way to manage AFib Implant offers a lifechanging alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners Atrial fibrillation (AFib) causes your heart to beat irregularly, which affects its ability to pump blood normally. When the heart doesn’t pump as it should, blood can collect and form clots. If a clot escapes, it can cut off the blood supply to the brain—causing a stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with AFib are five times more likely to have a stroke. Strokes that are caused by complications from AFib tend to be more severe than strokes with other underlying causes. Nonvalvular AFib can mean a lifetime of taking blood thinners. It can also mean a lifetime of worry about bleeds from falls, other medical issues or an unexpected surgery. Riverside Heart & Vascular Institute can offer patients with nonvalvular AFib an alternative to a lifelong dependency on blood thinners— the Watchman implant. TheWatchman option The Watchman is a permanent device that doesn’t have to be replaced and can’t be seen outside the body. The device is implanted into the heart in a one-time procedure. To implant the Watchman, your doctor makes a small cut in your upper leg and inserts a narrow tube, similar to a standard stent procedure. Your doctor then guides the Watchman into the left atrial appendage of your heart. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and takes about an hour. Patients commonly stay in the hospital overnight and leave the next day. You could be a candidate for the Watchman procedure if your AFib is not caused by a heart valve problem, a doctor has recommended you take blood thinners and you are looking for an alternative because: ● You have a history of serious bleeding while taking blood thinners. ● You have an occupation or lifestyle that puts you at risk for serious bleeding. ● You have difficulties taking blood thinners as prescribed. Your heart, our expertise At Riverside Heart and Vascular Institute, every member of the team puts their heart into healing yours. To request an appointment, call (888) 368-8986. “The Watchman implant may be a life-changing alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners for those who need one. In a one-time procedure, the Watchman implant effectively reduces the risk of stroke in people with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem.” —Vikas Patel, MD, an interventional cardiologist with the Riverside Heart and Vascular Institute
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