New device

[sunigirl]

Hi. I was having INR checked when the nurse asked if I had heard about the new device which is implanted to control AF. Very recent trials. Having just had av node ablation (Oct) was angry with myself for having it done. If this is fact why oh why didn't EP tell me to wait awhile instead of urging me to have AV node ablation. Has anyone heard of this? Presuming nurse has correct facts. Sunigirl.

[Hidden]

What is the device?

[sunigirl in reply to Hidden]

Hi Yatsura

The anticoagulant sister must have mixed up her info as it's probably the Watchman she was talking about. There is a post describing it. Would have been wonderful if true.

One day soon maybe.

Best Wishes Sunigirl

[BobD Volunteer]

Sorry never heard of anything like that. Lots of new devices but not to CONTROL AF Also do remember that blood ladies are not always nurses so may not actually know much other than how to take blood.

[souljacs4 in reply to BobD]

Did she tell you what it was called. If so I am sure someone on here can tell you if it could control AF. I have never heard of anything like that.

[sunigirl in reply to souljacs4]

After reading replies on herebI think the sister at anticoagulant clinic must have meant the Watchman device but this lowers risk of clots.

Best Wishes

[Halpin in reply to BobD]

You got that one right Bob, but there was one of these ladies in my life many many years ago and she was full of information about everyone else. Merry Christmas. James H.

[sunigirl in reply to Halpin]

????????

[Finvola]

Don't knock yourself about sunigirl - IF such a thing existed it would be shouted about everywhere and a few cardiologists and EP's would know about it.

The person who said this sounds like many others who have made misleading comments to AF patients - many on this site, myself included. A nurse did my annual Apixaban blood test and complained that 'we don't know where we are with these NOAC's, as we don't know the INR'. Enough said.

[sunigirl in reply to Finvola]

Hi Finvola. If trained staff don't know it doesn't help our confidence. Best Wishes sunigirl

[Finvola in reply to sunigirl]

I do agree. That's why the AFA and this forum are so important. Without the knowledge and confidence I have gained here, I would have been worried by my nurse's comment.

[pleesk in reply to Finvola]

There is some truth in what the nurse said. With the OAC's, it's more or less a "size fits all" approach, whereas with warfarin, the INR would indicate where we stand.

[RobertELee in reply to pleesk]

You could just as easily say that warfarin is 'one-size fits all'. Those on it all strive to remain in the same therapeutic range in order to remain protected. On apixaban, I know exactly where I stand. I'm protected all the time - without any striving involved!

[Finvola in reply to pleesk]

I felt (and still feel) that the nurse's comment was inappropriate and thoughtless at best. What a medical professional didn't appear to know - or consider important - was the difference in operation between the drugs' actions and the effect her comment may have had on a less-aware patient.

[Halpin in reply to pleesk]

Hi please, what's OAC's please? J.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to pleesk]

You are missing the point here. NOACs do not work on the same part of the clotting process as warfarin and therefore do not need testing. They work --end of.

[northernsoul1]

There are a few new bits of information on the internet referring to something called the Watchman. I wonder if this is it?

[Hidden]

Here's the Watchman bostonscientific.com/en-US/...

Quote: "The WATCHMAN Device is intended for percutaneous, transcatheter closure of the left atrial appendage (LAA). Patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation who are at increased risk for stroke and systemic embolism, are suitable for warfarin and seek a non-pharmacologic alternative to warfarin may be eligible for a WATCHMAN Device. By closing off the LAA, the risk of stroke may be reduced and, over time, patients may be able to stop taking warfarin."

_

[10gingercats in reply to Hidden]

'and, over time'sounds ambiguous to me to say the least....re. Watchman.

[seasider18]

Could it be this?

esh.nhs.uk/news/2015/2015-1...

[sunigirl in reply to seasider18]

Hi Seasider18.

Yes ! It sounds the most likely. Thanks for sharing that info.

Best Wishes

Sunigirl

[seasider18 in reply to sunigirl]

It was featured on South East News on BBC 1. My ears picked up as it was 'my' two cardiologists doing it. There was a later article in the Daily Mail on another hospital doing it but the link I saved says broken.

[Mike11]

Yes there is a new device in trials but why would you prefer an implant which just controls AF and leaves a major scar compared to an ablation which leaves no indication it has happened and eliminates AF

[seasider18 in reply to Mike11]

You hardly see your pacemaker scar as it quickly fades. My pacemaker though looks much more prominent than it did. Cardiology registrar said the other week that it is well seated but my GP agrees with me that it moves. Not sure if he was joking when he asked if I wanted it removed.

[dmac4646 in reply to Mike11]

It would appear that many ablations need to be repeated and the procedure is not risk free - it will be interesting to see how effective this device performs.

[Mike11 in reply to dmac4646]

Almost every ablation will require a follow-up eventually though I'm still on my first, but it's going to be lower risk than the new technique which requires getting the unit close to the heart and then leaving it there.

[PeterWh in reply to Mike11]

As I understand it the watchman does nothing re eliminating the AF. What it supposedly does do is to cause the appendage to close up and therefore significantly reduce the chances of clots which then could cause a stroke.

[Mike11 in reply to PeterWh]

No the Watchman is something else entirely.

[Emsysy in reply to Mike11]

Don't get too confident about ablations. They are very often not permanent Fixes. The younger you are the more likely to be successful in the long term.

[sunigirl in reply to Mike11]

Hi Mike11

I have had three ablations which unfortunately failed. I have a pacemaker which has only a thin white scar where it was inserted just below left collar bone. Best Wishes

[Mike11 in reply to sunigirl]

That's very unfortunate on the failed ablations, but I agree it can happen. A standard pacemaker isn't what we are talking about here though - the new treatment involves putting a unit inside the heart.

[davee]

Could it be the Implantable Loop Recorder? I had one fitted 5 months ago. It comes in 3 parts. The implant ,an activator for when you get any symptoms and a transmitter to send details to go or the EP. This is made by Medtronic. Well worth trying.

[sunigirl in reply to davee]

It could be and sounds excellent. Thanks Davee.

Best wishes

[dmac4646 in reply to davee]

Think it is this : good video bhf.org.uk/heart-health/tre...

[dave205]

See the following article.

uptodate.com/contents/impla...

[sunigirl in reply to dave205]

Hi dave205

I haven't seen this website (uptodate) but just had a quick look and will take time out tomorrow to read. Thanks so much.

Sunigirl

[jackdrum]

Hi Sunigirl

This is my first time posting on this forum, but I have a life long history of AF.

I don't know your age, or AF history, but AV node ablation is considered by most educated EP's as the last option for AF.

I was on medication for AF for 29 years before I was cured of AF. I had the Maze procedure done April 10 1998 By dr. Dale Geiss and have been cured since.

Dr. Geiss moved to Davenport Iowa, but still does the maze.

I'm leaving my Email address here if you need more info. [e-mail]

[sunigirl in reply to jackdrum]

Thank you Jackdrum I will email you. I do feel a lost cause now. But I do my best to be positive and keep smiling. Thanks

Sunigirl.

[davee]

Hi dmac4646, the loop I mentioned earlier today isn't a defibrillator but works as a type of ECG reading my hr continuously but can be further recorded by using the activator. Then by using the the transmitter can send details to hospital. Sorry for the confusion but hope I've cleared that up.

[dmac4646 in reply to davee]

no problem thanks for clarifying.