New Watchman Implant Procedure
April 03, 2017
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center first Washington hospital north of Seattle to offer WATCHMAN Implant procedure
WATCHMAN Implant offers alternative to blood-thinning medications to reduce stroke risk
BELLINGHAM, Wash., March 29, 2017 — PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center is the first hospital in northern Washington to offer patients an alternative to long-term anticoagulation (blood-thinning) treatment with the WATCHMAN procedure. The WATCHMAN Implant, a small device that looks much like a tiny parachute made of wire and mesh, is used to close off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA) to keep harmful blood clots from entering the blood stream and potentially causing a stroke.
The WATCHMAN procedure is intended for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) not caused by heart valve problems. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart condition where the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat too fast and with irregular rhythm (fibrillation). Twenty percent of all strokes occur in patients with AF.
The most common treatment to reduce stroke risk in patients with AF is blood-thinning medication, which is not well-tolerated by some patients and carries a significant risk for bleeding complications. The WATCHMAN Implant provides an alternative to reduce their risk of AF-related stroke.
“The WATCHMAN Implant provides patients with a high stroke risk a way to keep blood clots from entering the brain and other parts of the body without the typical risks associated with taking blood thinners long-term,” said John MacGregor, MD, WATCHMAN implanting physician at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. “It’s very exciting to be able to offer this procedure in our own community.”
The WATCHMAN Implant procedure typically lasts about an hour, and patients generally stay at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center overnight for recovery. For more information on the WATCHMAN Implant, please visit: watchmanimplant.com.
Patients or referring providers interested in the WATCHMAN procedure at PeaceHealth St. Joseph can call (360)788-8300.
WATCHMAN Implant offers alternative to blood-thinning medications to reduce stroke risk
BELLINGHAM, Wash., March 29, 2017 — PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center is the first hospital in northern Washington to offer patients an alternative to long-term anticoagulation (blood-thinning) treatment with the WATCHMAN procedure. The WATCHMAN Implant, a small device that looks much like a tiny parachute made of wire and mesh, is used to close off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA) to keep harmful blood clots from entering the blood stream and potentially causing a stroke.
The WATCHMAN procedure is intended for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) not caused by heart valve problems. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a heart condition where the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat too fast and with irregular rhythm (fibrillation). Twenty percent of all strokes occur in patients with AF.
The most common treatment to reduce stroke risk in patients with AF is blood-thinning medication, which is not well-tolerated by some patients and carries a significant risk for bleeding complications. The WATCHMAN Implant provides an alternative to reduce their risk of AF-related stroke.
“The WATCHMAN Implant provides patients with a high stroke risk a way to keep blood clots from entering the brain and other parts of the body without the typical risks associated with taking blood thinners long-term,” said John MacGregor, MD, WATCHMAN implanting physician at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. “It’s very exciting to be able to offer this procedure in our own community.”
The WATCHMAN Implant procedure typically lasts about an hour, and patients generally stay at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center overnight for recovery. For more information on the WATCHMAN Implant, please visit: watchmanimplant.com.
Patients or referring providers interested in the WATCHMAN procedure at PeaceHealth St. Joseph can call (360)788-8300.
