Washington Regional offers new Watchman medical device

Cardiologists at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville have started implanting the newest version of a medical device designed to reduce stroke risk and serve as an alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners for those with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem, also known as non-valvular AFib or NVAF.

Washington Regional’s Walker Heart Institute now offers the Watchman FLX Pro Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) Device. The new device features visualization markers for more precise placement, a broader size range to treat a wider range of patients and a special coating designed to reduce the risk of device-related blood clots, according to the hospital.

An estimated 7 million Americans are affected by AFib – an irregular heartbeat that can feel like a fluttering heart. People with AFib have a five times greater risk of stroke than those with normal heart rhythms. The Watchman FLX Pro device closes off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage to prevent blood clots from entering the bloodstream and possibly causing a stroke. By closing off the left atrial appendage, the risk of stroke may be reduced, and over time, patients may be able to stop taking blood-thinning medications.

“Washington Regional is proud to offer this technology to our patients,” said Dr. Shaun Senter, a cardiologist with Washington Regional Cardiovascular Clinic, part of the Walker Heart Institute. “This newest iteration of the Watchman device can significantly lower a patient’s risk of stroke, helping them live a longer, healthier life.”

Washington Regional has offered the Watchman device since 2018. Globally, more than 400,000 people have received the device. It is implanted in a one-time procedure, which is done under general anesthesia and takes about one hour.

Asked whether patients with an older device version can get the newest version implanted, a Washington Regional spokeswoman said, “There is no need for patients who received a previous version of the device to have it replaced. This newest version of the Watchman device is the only one offered by Washington Regional.”