WATCHMAN

A Better Way to Reduce Stroke Risk for Some AFIB Patients

The WATCHMAN™ device is the only FDA-approved implant proven to reduce stroke risk in people with atrial fibrillation (AFIB) that is not caused by a heart valve problem. Boulder Heart's cardiac specialists — led by Dr. Srini Iyengar, one of Colorado's most experienced WATCHMAN physicians—are the only team providing this innovative, minimally invasive procedure in Boulder County, at Foothills Hospital in Boulder.

Atrial Fibrillation & Stroke Risk

People with AFIB are at a much higher risk of developing a stroke than those with a regular heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation can significantly decrease the heart’s pumping capacity, which increases the risk of clots forming—particularly in the left atrial appendage (LAA), a small sac in the left atrium (the top left heart chamber). If a clot escapes and travels to another part of the body, it may limit blood supply to the brain and cause a stroke.

Reducing Stroke Risk for AFIB Patients

Blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin, can be an effective way to reduce stroke risk in AFIB patients. However, there are potential barriers for certain individuals — primarily an increased risk of major bleeding, especially for older adults at high risk of falls. Additionally, people who enjoy an active lifestyle may want to avoid long-term use of blood-thinners due to concerns about bleeding in the event they sustain an injury while pursuing a favorite sport or activity.

Finally, long-term use of blood-thinners requires frequent blood tests, dietary restrictions and high prescription costs. The WATCHMAN procedure could be the right alternative for some individuals.

The WATCHMAN Procedure

For people with AFIB, more than 90% of stroke-causing clots are formed in the LAA. In order to close the LAA, your cardiologist will place the device inside the heart through a one-time minimally invasive procedure. A small incision is made in the upper leg and your cardiologist gently guides the device up through a vein, where it permanently seals the opening of the LAA and keeps it from releasing clots.

Both local and general anesthesia may be used during the procedure, which is conducted in the Cath Lab at Foothills Hospital. Most patients are able to go home the next day, with overall recovery averaging two to four days.

Boulder Heart is proud to offer patients the latest WATCHMAN device - the WATCHMAN FLX Implant. This next-generation device features a fully-rounded design to offer increased ease of use for physicians and improved procedural outcomes for patients, including reduced complication risk and healing time. This technology, which is built upon the most studied and implanted LAAC device in the world, also offers patients long-term stability and broader size options to treat a wider range of anatomies.

To learn more about WATCHMAN or make an appointment,
call 303-415-8898.

WATCHMAN Videos

Why Choose Foothills Hospital and Boulder Heart?

All WATCHMAN procedures are performed by our Structural Heart program director, Dr. Srinivas Iyengar. With more than 100 WATCHMAN procedures successfully completed, Dr. Iyengar is the most experienced cardiologist performing WATCHMAN in the Northern Front Range and Denver metro areas. In fact, Dr. Iyengar has been selected to be Colorado’s only physician certified to teach other cardiologists how to perform WATCHMAN.

To learn more about WATCHMAN or make an appointment,
please call 303-415-8898.

Foothills Hospital is the only hospital in Boulder County to conduct WATCHMAN, along with a handful of hospitals along Colorado’s Front Range and about 100 hospitals across the nation.

BCH offers a full range of cardiology services at our three Boulder Heart clinics, conveniently located across Boulder County in Boulder, Lafayette & Longmont.

Images and video provided courtesy of Boston Scientific. © 2018 Boston Scientific Corporation or its affiliates. All rights reserved. All trademarks are property of their respective owners.