ROCK ISLAND, Ill.–UnityPoint Health— Trinity is celebrating the 100th person to receive a successful implant of the WATCHMAN device, which reduces the risk of blood clots, stroke and reliance on blood thinners for patients with irregular heartbeats.
Trinity is the first – and only – healthcare provider in the region to offer the WATCHMAN device to reduce stroke risk starting in 2020. WATCHMAN is an approved alternative to long-term blood thinner therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) not caused by a heart valve problem. The minimally invasive procedure takes a short amount of time and allows recipients
of the device to be discharged the following day with return to their normal activities in a few days.
Atrial fibrillation is a common condition affecting more than five million people in the United States. It The device works by closing off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA) to keep harmful blood clots that can form in the LAA from entering the blood stream and potentially causing a stroke. By closing off the LAA, the risk of stroke may be reduced, and, over time, patients may be able to stop taking their blood-thinning medication.
“We continue to offer the best in heart care right here in the Quad Cities at UnityPoint Health –Trinity. People with atrial fibrillation are at significant risk of stroke and they need to know they have options. Our goal is delivering the highest-quality and latest technologies to safely get them back to doing what they love most,” says Kathy Pulley, Director of Cardiology Services, UnityPoint Health – Trinity.
Helbert Acosta, MD, Mark W. Kovach, MD, and Rajiv Mallik, MD, all of Cardiovascular Medicine, P.C., perform the WATCHMAN procedure at UnityPoint Health – Trinity.
“Patients who can’t tolerate blood thinners are in a tough spot because they need them to prevent stroke or bleeding complications,” says Robert J. Erickson, President & CEO, UnityPoint Health – Trinity. “This can be a better option for them that reduces the worry that comes with being at a higher risk for stroke.”
More than 100,000 patients received the one-time procedure WATCHMAN device from Boston Scientific. It’s a permanent device that does not need replaced and cannot be seen outside the body. Cardiologists perform the procedure under general anesthesia in about an hour. Patients commonly stay in the hospital overnight and leave the next day. Studies have shown that the WATCHMAN device offers these patients as much protection from stroke as blood thinners.
For more information, speak with your primary care physician or call 309-779-5340, or visit unitypoint.org.
