Watchman device is now available in Newcastle and nine other hospitals.

[seasider18]

thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/...

A NORTH-EAST hospital is one of 10 centres in the UK which will pioneer a new heart procedure to prevent strokes.

More than 5,500 people have a stroke every year in the North-East but it is hoped that the new sieve-like Watchman device will prevent strokes and reduce the number of lives lost.

Along with nine other centres, the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle will be implanting the device in patients who are suffering an irregular heartbeat - known as atrial fibrillation.

It works by sealing off the small pocket-like structures in the heart where the vast majority of clots form.

Known as left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) treatment, the Watchman LAAC device is not routinely available on the NHS at present.

But evidence from the 10 centre trial will be used to assess its effectiveness as a treatment and its cost-effectiveness for the NHS.

Teams at the Freeman will begin implanting the device today (Monday, November 3).

The Watchman measures between two and three centimetres across and works by preventing blood clots in the heart being pumped through the blood vessels to the brain, causing a stroke.

Once it is implanted the Watchman holds any clots in the heart and never needs to be replaced.

After several months the device is actually incorporated into the heart’s wall.

An earlier trial has shown that the device is as effective as the drug warfarin in preventing stroke, which means there is now an alternative to taking a daily drug.

Dr David Crossland, consultant paediatric and adult congenital cardiologist at the Freeman said: “In the first instance, blood-thinning drugs will be the solution for many, but for those who cannot take them, or those with important side effects then I hope local patients will come forward to be considered for a Watchman implant.”

Former patient Colonel Stanley Rogers had the Watchman implanted as part of an emergency procedure carried out at the Freeman in July 2013.

Col Rogers said: "Repeated bleeding and emergency admission to hospital led to me coming off the warfarin drugs. I received my Watchman implant last year and my life has been transformed, with freedom from stroke and recurrence of intestinal bleeding. I am at a lower risk of stroke and free from the intestinal bleeding, with no need for warfarin."

[jeanjeannie50]

That's interesting seasider18, thanks for sharing. I hope the trial with the Watchman works out well.

Jean

[seasider18]

An earlier version had trials but they did not proceed to general use due to cost restrictions. The Amplatzer amulet had trials at ten hospitals over four years ago but was also restricted due to the cost. I missed out on that trial so had it fitted privately.

[irene75359]

Oh to cut another drug out of my life! Thank you for posting, very interesting.

[seasider18 in reply to irene75359]

If the NHS will not do it you will need to dig deep. My Amplatzer cost over 10K previous watchman inquiries at London Bridge hospital and the Harley Street clinic were much higher.

[stopper]

I was due to have the Watchman fitted at the Freeman hospital last July. I was given an angiogram and an echocardiogram and it was found that I had aortic stenosis and a partially blocked left coronary artery.They replaced the valve with open heart surgery, done the left coronary bypass and fitted an atrial clamp which blocks off the atrial chamber.

I was having difficulty walking uphill having to stop every 20 yards.

The operation was done 13 December 2020 five weeks ago.

I am now in recovery and when walking I can walk uphill no problem.

I hope to come off the blood thinners after in about 5 Months time.

My a/f medication dosage has been reduced and i feel much better now

[seasider18 in reply to stopper]

Hopefully you are not now in AF and so not need it. I had never had AF prior to my Aortic valve replacement. It evidently happens to around 35% of cardiology patients initially many of whom get over it. Mine kept on on coming back over the next three years.

I'd not heard of an atrial clamp before and had to look it up, A clamp would sound like it stops and blood going thru rather than acting as a filter.

The Isolator Synergy ablation clamp is the FIRST and ONLY surgical ablation device offered with FDA approval for the treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) and the only device either Catheter or Surgical to be approved for the treatment of persistent and long-standing persistent Afib