Prisma Health Magazine

PRISMA HEALTH MAGAZINE

‘WATCHING’ OVER ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

By Janet E. Perrigo

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- tion, approximately 700,000 Americans are hospitalized annu- ally with atrial fibrillation as their primary diagnosis. Without intervention, these patients become five times more likely to experience debilitating and deadly ischemic strokes, which are caused by blockage of blood flow. Atrial fibrillation occurs when the upper and lower cham- bers of the heart aren't regulated properly because the elec- trical impulses governing heart activity have malfunctioned. Beating too quickly, too slowly or irregularly produces disuni- ty among the chambers. Blood is not fully emptied from the

heart, and lingering blood cells can pool together and clot. If a clot escapes to the brain, it can block blood flow, causing a stroke. Unfortunately, 30% of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients struggle tolerating the prescribed blood thinners. However, thanks to a relatively new and minimally invasive surgery known as the WATCHMAN implant procedure, at-risk patients have an alternative course of action. Backed by a decade of clini- cal studies and trials, and with FDA approval since 2015, the WATCHMAN device has proven itself to be a safe and effective procedure with minimal recovery time.

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