WATCHMAN device.

[Alphakiwi]

Has anyone had this device inplanted in the heart to stop clotting. I think i may be a candidate for this procedure

[pip_pip]

If you punch in Watchman Device in the search box you will come up with the following link relating to the plethora of postings...

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[HGates]

Unless you’re really really struggling with anticoagulants, I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole.

theskepticalcardiologist.co...

[ozziebob]

It seems from my reading that the Atriclip might be a safer option.

I suggest you use the Search 🔍 option in HU (at the top) using "Atriclip" as your search term. You will find many informative Posts & Replies on this matter.

One such is mjames1 's ...

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

Good luck.

[Cookie24 in reply to ozziebob]

Thanks. My EP wants to do Watchman as my LAA was isolated. I will keep reading about atriclip. I am in the USA so not sure this is still being used.

[ozziebob in reply to Cookie24]

Certainly is. The famous Dr Wolf in Houston uses nothing else, but his procedure (minimaze) is not a catheter ablation. See ...

wolfminimaze.com

[Poochmom in reply to Cookie24]

As Ozziebob says, the atriclip is a much better choice than a watchman although I’m not exactly sure if you can have a procedure just to have it inserted. The difference is that with a watchman, it is a mesh plug inserted into the LAA. It sometimes moves or is not inserted completely and can still let clots into the LAA. You also have to take aspirin for life with a watchman and it does not occlude the LAA annd it is still active. About 20% of people with AFib have AFib that can also come from the LAA. The atriclip is clipped around the LAA completely isolating it if done correctly. The LAA will shrivel up and no activity can come from it. No anti coagulants are required ever again for AFib and stroke risk is reduced by 97%.

[Cookie24 in reply to Poochmom]

Good percentage.

[GooseEggs]

My understanding is that it is not foolproof--and strokes may still occur thus anticoagulants may still be needed, not sure the point necessarily of exposing oneself to another procedure that may have minimal benefit...

[Cookie24 in reply to GooseEggs]

Are you referring to Watchman or Atriclip?

[Megams]

~Thank you for posting this question?

I was referred to a Cardiologist for this operation and due to other heart procedures deemed more important at time deferred this appointment.

I have since read that this is not a fail-safe technique so have opted not to go ahead.

Good luck with what you decided to do~

[Cookie24 in reply to Megams]

Can you post a link to the material you have read? I

[Megams in reply to Cookie24]

~I am very sorry but I do not recall where I read this but think the other good folk here have touched on the varying degrees of accountability of both Watchman versus Atriclip - good luck with your decision~