500th Watchman Procedure, Countless Prevented Strokes

“Atrial fibrillation is so common," says Paul Gordon, MD, an interventional cardiologist at the Lifespan Cardiovascular Institute. "Most patients don't even know they're in atrial fibrillation."

The Watchman is implanted through a minimally invasive procedure and placed in the appendage where clots form, closing the appendage and preventing clots from traveling. "It's a permanent fix," says Dr. Gordon. "It really is a safe procedure."

At 83, Pauline Papineau has a long family history of heart problems. Both her parents died from heart disease, and she and all of her brothers have had bypass surgery. While blood thinners can help many patients with cardiac issues, they didn’t work for Papineau. That's what made her a good candidate for an alternative treatment: the Watchman.

The Watchman is a flexible device designed to help prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation causes blood to pool in the left atrial appendage of the heart and blood cells to stick together and form a clot. When a blood clot travels to another part of the body, it can cut off the blood supply to the brain, causing a stroke.

In May of 2017, the Lifespan Cardiovascular Institute implanted its first Watchman device. And in January of 2022, Papineau became the 500th patient to receive the Watchman. The center at Rhode Island Hospital is one of only three hospitals in New England to achieve this milestone. Dr. Gordon mentions that more than 95 percent of patients are good candidates for the Watchman and it is up to 98 percent effective.

"I feel more relaxed about it," says Papineau, knowing her risk of stroke is nearly eliminated. “Actually, I feel pretty good.”