oldpaboy

I have afib and also have a pacemaker. I am wondering if anyone has had a watchman device implanted. ......Thands for any info

1 Comments

About the Watchman System

by CanadianKirk2 - 2009-04-05 10:04:46

I think that 99% of the club members who read your question have no idea what the Watchman System is...including myself. Had to do some quick googling and have put some links for those interested below.

This system is still undergoing clinical trial and got into the news at the end of March as a paper was delivered with the results of the trial to date at the American College of Cardiologists Scientific Sessions meeting in Orlando, Florida, USA. Since it is still undergoing trial, the only members of this club who might have had the system installed are part of the trial.

Here's what one MD blogger had to say about the system:

Overall, the preliminary results of the PREVENT-AF trial look quite interesting. If the complication rate can be reduced with the Watchman device, and if final results confirm these preliminary findings, then the Watchman device may at some point become a viable alternative to chronic anticoagulation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation. Given the reported risk of complications, however, it is likely that initial clinical usage of this device will be limited to patients who, for one reason or another, are unable to take coumadin.

Here are the links for further reading:

From the manufacturer:

http://www.atritech.net/about.aspx?id=94

http://www.atritech.net/device.aspx?id=107

http://www.atritech.net/device.aspx?id=108

From the doctor/blogger:

http://heartdisease.about.com/b/2009/03/30/substitute-for-coumadin-in-atrial-fibrillation.htm

CanadianKirk





You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

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