Huntington Hospital Reaches Milestone With 500th WATCHMAN Procedure

Huntington Hospital’s cardiovascular services team in Pasadena has completed its 500th WATCHMAN procedure, marking a significant milestone in treating atrial fibrillation patients at risk of stroke.

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) device provides an alternative to blood thinners for patients with atrial fibrillation who are prone to bleeding or falls.

Atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat condition, affects an estimated six million Americans and can lead to blood clots forming in the heart, increasing stroke risk.

The WATCHMAN device was first implanted at Huntington Hospital in 2018, making it the inaugural procedure of its kind in the San Gabriel Valley.

Dr. Alex Durairaj, medical director of cardiovascular services at Huntington Health, highlighted the significance of this advancement in patient care.

“Only 10 years ago, we had to rely solely on powerful blood thinners to reduce the risk of stroke with atrial fibrillation,” Durairaj said. “Now, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our caregivers and staff at the Helen and Will Webster Heart and Vascular Center, we are able to provide another option for lifesaving care to help lower the risk of stroke.”

The WATCHMAN device targets the left atrial appendage (LAA), where 90% of blood clots form in atrial fibrillation patients, effectively closing off this area of the heart.

By preventing blood clot formation in the LAA, the device reduces stroke risk and allows most patients to stop taking blood thinners within six weeks post-procedure.

The WATCHMAN implantation is a one-time procedure performed under general anesthesia, typically taking about an hour to complete. The device comes compressed within a small tube for insertion.

Patients commonly leave the hospital the same evening or sometimes the next day.

The device is inserted through a large IV in the upper leg and guided through blood vessels to the heart, where it opens like an umbrella to block potential clots.

To date, more than 400,000 patients worldwide have received a WATCHMAN implant, demonstrating its growing acceptance as a treatment option for atrial fibrillation.

Huntington Hospital’s achievement of 500 WATCHMAN procedures at the Helen and Will Webster Heart and Vascular Center shows its commitment to providing advanced cardiovascular care and innovative treatment options for patients in the San Gabriel Valley.

Patients interested in learning more about this procedure are encouraged to talk to their cardiologist.may visit the official WATCHMAN website, https://www.watchman.com/en-us/how-watchman-device-works.html.