Good Samaritan Hospital is among one of the first facilities nationwide to offer the new WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device as a fast, minimally invasive procedure for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The WATCHMAN Device, created by Boston Scientific, may be an alternative to warfarin for stroke risk reduction.
In a procedure that typically takes less than one hour, the WATCHMAN Device closes off the left atrial appendage (LAA) permanently. The LAA is believed to be the main source of stroke associated with AF.
Good Samaritan Hospital’s Dr. Amin Manuchehry, interventional cardiologist, and electrophysiologists Dr. Dwain Coggins and Dr. Matthew Levy, are now offering the new WATCHMAN Device procedure, which is performed under general anesthesia and only requires a brief 24-hour hospital stay.
“The WATCHMAN Device is an innovative option for AF patients that can reduce long-term bleeding complications via a relatively quick procedure,” said Dr. Manuchehry. “Especially for patients who have increased bleeding risk, this implant is a potentially lifesaving new alternative.”
More than five million Americans suffer from AF, an irregular heartbeat that can lead to stroke, blood clots, and heart failure. The blood thinner warfarin is the most common treatment prescribed to AF patients to help reduce strokes, but is a lifelong therapy that must be taken daily. Almost half of patients who are eligible for warfarin remain untreated because they do not tolerate the drug, or experience serious side effects such as bleeding.
“This is the first time that we’ve been able to provide an alternative treatment that is proven to reduce AF related stroke comparably to warfarin,” said Dr. Levy. “We encourage certain AF patients to consider this option, which offers freedom from a long-term, daily blood thinner.”
Good Samaritan Hospital's Cardiac and Vascular Institute treats heart patients in Santa Clara County with a commitment to incorporating the latest cardiac techniques and treatments. In addition to being one of the first five hospitals in the country to become an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Good Samaritan Hospital’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab was honored by its parent company Hospital Corporation of America as one of the "Top Ten Peak Performers."
For more information about cardiac care at Good Samaritan Hospital, please visit our cardiology page.
About Good Samaritan Hospital
Good Samaritan Hospital, a 474-bed acute care hospital in the heart of Silicon Valley, has been delivering elite level care with compassion since 1965. Its two locations include the main campus in San Jose, California and the Mission Oaks campus in Los Gatos, California. Good Samaritan Hospital is recognized nationally for quality and safety by The Joint Commission as a Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® and with the Gold Seal of Approval® for Sepsis Certification, and for Hip and Knee Joint Replacement Certification. Good Samaritan Hospital is a Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, STEMI Receiving Center, accredited Chest Pain Center, certified Afib Center and a five-time recipient of the American College of Surgeons Outstanding Achievement Award in cancer care. For more information visit, Good Samaritan Hospital.