INNOVATIONS IN CARE

Lifesaving cardiac care.

An estimated 6 million Americans are affected by atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heartbeat that can cause a blood clot to form in the heart — and lead to a stroke. Some patients take blood-thinning medication to lower the risk of a stroke. However, this treatment is not sustainable and safe for patients who have a risk of bleeding or are prone to falls. For those patients, the WATCHMAN device is an alternative that can stop stroke-causing blood clots from forming in the heart.

Approximately 90% of blood clots that form due to AFib occur in the left atrial appendage (LAA), a blind pouch in the left upper chamber of the heart. The WATCHMAN device closes off the heart’s LAA, preventing blood clots from forming and reducing the risk of a stroke. As a result, most patients get the green light to stop taking blood thinners in as little as six weeks.

Placement of the WATCHMAN is a onetime procedure performed under general anesthesia, which takes about an hour. It comes compressed within a small tube. This allows it to be inserted via a large IV in the upper leg. It is then advanced following the blood vessel into the heart. Once the WATCHMAN arrives at the LAA, it opens like an umbrella and is permanently implanted to block blood clots. Patients commonly leave the hospital the same evening or sometimes the next day.

In 2018, Alex Durairaj, MD, medical director of cardiovascular services (left), and cardiologist Mayer Rashtian, MD, (right) performed the first WATCHMAN procedure in the San Gabriel Valley right here at Huntington Hospital. Since then, our cardiovascular team has performed 500 WATCHMAN procedures and counting.

“Only 10 years ago, we had to rely solely on powerful blood thinners to reduce the risk of stroke with atrial fibrillation,” says Azhil (Alex) Durairaj, MD, Huntington Health’s medical director of cardiovascular services.

Now, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our caregivers and staff at the Helen and Will Webster Heart & Vascular Center, we are able to provide another option for lifesaving care to help lower the risk of stroke.

Philanthropic contributions help ensure Huntington Hospital is able to remain at the forefront of care. As an example, in 2018, a patient with AFib received the first WATCHMAN™ Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) implant in the San Gabriel Valley at our hospital. Since then, our cardiovascular services team has performed 500 WATCHMAN procedures and counting.

Talk to your cardiologist if you would like to learn more about the WATCHMAN device. You may also visit huntingtonhealth.org/heart for additional information about our expert cardiac care.