Salem Health and electrophysiology providers from Cascade Cardiology and Oregon Heart Center began implanting the Boston Scientific WATCHMAN (left atrial appendage occlusion device) last week. The implant closes the left atrial appendage of the heart to reduce the risk of stroke associated with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
The WATCHMAN device reduces the need to take long-term anticoagulants, and in most cases, removes it entirely. Watch for more details in Common Ground about this new benefit of stroke reduction for your heart patients with atrial fibrillation.