DETROIT, April 21, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cardiologists at
Henry Ford Hospital have implanted a device that reduces the risk
of stroke in patients with an irregular heartbeat.
With only handful of hospitals in the Midwest offering this
procedure, Henry Ford is able to add
another option to its arsenal of tools for certain patients with
atrial fibrillation, which affects the heart's ability to pump.
"This is a first in Detroit and
first-ever commercial Watchman implant at a non-clinical trial
site," says cardiologist Claudio
Schuger, M.D., Henry Ford Section
Head of Cardiac Electrophysiology.
"This is an excellent alternative now available at Henry Ford
Hospital to Michigan patients. We
have extensive experience treating atrial fibrillation, so we are
very excited about this newest development," says Dr.Schuger.
The Watchman device, recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration, is designed for atrial fibrillation patients who
cannot tolerate blood thinners for long term due to increased risk
of bleeding complications.
The procedure was performed on two patients last week. Along
with Dr. Schuger were cardiologists Arfaat Khan, M.D.; Gurjit Singh, M.D., and Sachin Parikh, M.D.
Robert Click, 59, of Highland Park, has been dealing with an
irregular heartbeat nearly his entire life. He started using blood
thinners last October, then suffered a brain bleed in December.
Doctors, worried because he was a past stroke victim, inserted the
device. Now Click can stop taking the blood thinners in about 45
days – and finally go home.
"I'm looking forward to fishing for silver bass along the
Detroit River," says Click.
Air Force veteran David Harwood,
72, of Brownstown Township, has
been taking blood thinners for 20 years after a stress test
detected his atrial fibrillation. The retired city of Southgate
Recreation Department worker received the Watchman device after he
developed gastro-intestinal bleeding in November 2014.
"I think it's great if I can stop taking any of the medication,"
says Harwood, who also takes medicine for diabetes and high
cholesterol.
Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia,
currently affecting more than five million Americans. Researchers
believe 20 percent of all strokes occur in patients with atrial
fibrillation. Symptoms include irregular and rapid heartbeat; heart
palpitations or rapid thumping inside the chest; dizziness,
sweating and chest pain or pressure; shortness of breath or
anxiety; tiring more easily when exercising, and fainting.
Cardiologists typically diagnose atrial fibrillation with an
electrocardiogram (ECG) and use various drugs including blood
thinners to treat the condition.
The condition – misfiring by the electrical impulses in the
upper chambers of the heart – affects how the heart beats and the
flow of blood through the body. Due to the irregular and chaotic
rhythm, blood can pool, forming clots in a small outpouching of the
heart called the left atrial appendage. That raises the risk of
stroke five times higher in people with atrial fibrillation,
according to the American Heart Association.
The most common treatment to reduce stroke risk in patients with
AF is blood thinners. Despite the proven efficacy, long-term use of
blood thinners is not well-tolerated by some patients and carries a
significant risk for bleeding complications. Researchers say
nearly half of AF patients eligible for blood thinners are
currently untreated due to tolerance and adherence issues.
The newly approved device – the Watchman Left Atrial Appendage
Closure - closes off the left atrial appendage, dramatically
reducing the risk of stroke and alleviating the need for blood
thinners.
Implanting the Watchman device takes about one hour. Doctors
insert a catheter through a leg vein and into the heart, then open
the Watchman device to seal off the left atrial appendage sack.
Following the procedure, patients typically need to stay in the
hospital for 24 hours. Most patients will be able to discontinue
the use of blood thinners after 45 days.
The Watchman device, developed by Boston Scientific, is approved
by medical boards in more than 70 countries and has been approved
in Europe since 2005.
Cardiologists have implanted the device in more than 10,000
patients around the world.
The procedure makes Henry Ford
one of the few Midwest hospitals that offer both the Watchman and
the LARIAT procedure options, each alternatives for those with
atrial fibrillation who are at risk of stroke but who cannot
tolerate blood thinners.
In the LARIAT procedure, cardiologists cinch off the left atrial
appendage instead of blocking it off with the Watchman device.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call
313-916-2417 or visit www.henryford.com/heart.
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SOURCE Henry Ford Health System