Saint Francis Hospital Celebrates 100th WATCHMAN Procedure

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Cardiologists at Saint Francis Hospital completed the 100th WATCHMAN procedure at the hospital on April 5. WATCHMAN is a one-time, minimally invasive procedure for people with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem who need an alternative to blood thinners.

Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, affects the heart’s ability to pump blood normally and can cause blood to pool in an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA) where blood cells can stick together and form a clot. When a blood clot escapes from the LAA and travels to another part of the body, it can cut off blood supply to the brain and cause a stroke. In people with AFib not cause by a heart valve problem, also known as non-valvular AFib, more than 90% of stroke-causing clots that come from the heart are formed in the LAA – so closing off this part of the heart is an effective way to reduce stroke risk. The WATCHMAN Implant fits into the patient’s LAA, permanently closing it off to keep blood clots from escaping.

“The WATCHMAN is indicated for patients with atrial fibrillation who need long term blood thinners but cannot take them. The Watchman implant allows these patients to stop taking oral blood thinners. We know long-term use of blood thinners can be problematic for patients with non-valvular AFib who suffer a bleed or have a fall,” said Joseph Dell’Orfano, M.D., Regional Director of Electrophysiology, Trinity Health Of New England. “We are proud to have positively impacted the lives of 100 patients at Saint Francis Hospital, and we look forward to serving more patients in our community.”

WATCHMAN is implanted into the patient’s heart in an hour-long procedure. During the procedure, the physician makes a small puncture in the patient’s upper leg and inserts a narrow tube, called a catheter which is used to guide the WATCHMAN device into the LAA. The procedure is safe and is successful in over 95% of patients.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer our patients options when it comes to treatment of AFib,” said Rick Soucier, M.D., Regional Cardiology Service Line Leader for Trinity Health Of New England and Chief of Cardiology at Saint Francis. “At Trinity Health Of New England, we have an extensive network of cardiologists throughout the region, allowing us to provide state-of-the-art cardiac care close to home.”

For more information on cardiovascular care at Trinity Health Of New England’s Hoffman Heart and Vascular Institute, please visit trinityhealthofne.org/heart.