As cardiac medicine continues to progress and provide innovative options for patients combating heart problems, Bayhealth is committed to bringing hope and care to our communities. Our patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) are no exception. Providing the most advanced techniques and services, Bayhealth offers a new minimally invasive treatment option--a left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) with the groundbreaking WATCHMAN FLX™ device. This procedure lessens the risk of a stroke and is an alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners.
Cardiac surgeons have traditionally approached AFib by surgically removing the left atrial appendage (LAA), preventing blood from pooling there. Bayhealth has new techniques that close off the LAA rather than removing it. By closing it off, blood is not able to flood the sac and form a clot. This method is minimally invasive, effectively performed without having to open the chest.
This advanced procedure to close the LAA uses a catheter-inserted device called the WATCHMAN. It is the most studied and implanted LAAC device in the world and safely ensures the best long-term outcomes. This parachute-shaped, self-expanding device blocks blood from entering the sac as it sits at the base. Implanting this device does not require surgery as it is a catheter-based approach. Blood thinners are taken temporarily after the procedure to keep your body safe as it adjusts.
Speak to a cardiologist to see if you might be a candidate for the WATCHMAN procedure.