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Abrazo Arrowhead offers next-gen heart procedure

AFib can cause strokes, Watchman FLX may help patients needing alternative to blood thinners

Posted 5/7/21

A next generation heart procedure for atrial fibrillation (Afib) is now being offered at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, 18701 N. 67th Ave., Glendale.

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Abrazo Arrowhead offers next-gen heart procedure

AFib can cause strokes, Watchman FLX may help patients needing alternative to blood thinners

Posted

A next generation heart procedure for atrial fibrillation (Afib) is now being offered at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus, 18701 N. 67th Ave., Glendale.

Afib is an irregular heartbeat that can cause blood clots, which could lead to a debilitating or life-threatening stroke.

The Watchman FLX is a minimally invasive procedure that closes off the heart’s left atrial appendage, where stroke-causing blood clots commonly form in most patients. Performed in the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab, the device is passed through a catheter in a vein, then deployed into the heart.

“Atrial fibrillation needs immediate medical attention because it could lead to a life-threatening stroke, which is otherwise preventable,” said Dr. Yoaav Krauthammer, a cardiac electrophysiologist on the medical staff at Abrazo Arrowhead Campus.

Afib is a common disorder where irregular electrical signals in the heart cause the heart’s upper chamber to beat out of rhythm. The irregular heartbeat may cause blood clots, which could lead to stroke. The Watchman FLX will also help Afib patients reduce the need for blood thinning medications.

“The Watchman FLX device expands the number of patients who can benefit from this advance in surgical technology,” Abrazo Arrowhead Campus CEO Stephen Garner stated in a news release. “We are pleased to have this new generation treatment now available for our northwest Valley patients.”

  • Atrial fibrillation is a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.
  • Those with AFib have a five times greater risk of stroke than those with normal heart rhythms.
  • At least 2.7 million Americans are living with AFib, according to the American Heart Association.
  • Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital physicians participated in studies of the first generation Watchman device and continue to participate in clinical studies of new therapies.

“This technology features a new design that helps physicians safely enter and maneuver within the heart’s left atrial appendage,” Dr. Krauthammer explained. “It allows better engagement with the heart’s tissue for long-term stability and a more complete seal of the appendage to help prevent Afib.”

Visit AbrazoHealth.com.