Heart Care Services

Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device (WATCHMAN™)

The WATCHMAN™ left atrial appendage closure device is used to decrease stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation without having to use blood thinners. The device is implanted in a hospital setting, followed by overnight observation. For more information on the WATCHMAN device, watch the video below.

St. Luke's Hospital is the first healthcare network in the St. Louis region to perform a commercial implant of the newly FDA-approved WATCHMAN FLX™ device.
This next generation permanent heart implant is a catheter-based, non-surgically delivered device designed to close the left atrial appendage. The procedure works to increase safety by reducing the risk of stroke in certain patients with atrial fibrillation.

Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke Risk How WATCHMAN Works Is WATCHMAN Right for You? Meet Your WATCHMAN Physician

WATCHMAN Reduces the Risk of Stroke from Non valvular AFib

There's an alternative to warfarin for people who need one. It's called WATCHMAN. The only FDA-approved implant proven to reduce stroke risk in people with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem (also referred to as non-valvular AFib). Watch the video to learn more and talk to your cardiologist about WATCHMAN.

See How WATCHMAN Works

Watch Ingrid's Story

Hear from a WATCHMAN Patient

When atrial fibrillation and the bleeding risks of blood thinners started to slow down Ingrid, an active 55-year-old, she talked to her doctor about an alternative treatment. See how WATCHMAN helped give her a new lease on life.

Getting WATCHMAN
The first step to finding out if you're a candidate for WATCHMAN is making an appointment with your cardiologist to discuss your options.

For more information about WATCHMAN at St. Luke's or to schedule an appointment, call 314-991-6969.

WATCHMAN is for people with atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem who need an alternative to warfarin. This website is intended to provide patients and caregivers with some information about the WATCHMAN Implant. It may help prepare you for talking to your doctor about your options for reducing stroke risk.

Important Safety Information
The WATCHMAN Device is a permanent implant designed to close the left atrial appendage in the heart in an effort to reduce the risk of stroke.

With all medical procedures there are risks associated with the implant procedure and the use of the device. The risks include but are not limited to accidental heart puncture, air embolism, allergic reaction, anemia, anesthesia risks, arrhythmias, AV (Arteriovenous) fistula, bleeding or throat pain from the TEE (Trans Esophageal Echo) probe, blood clot or air bubbles in the lungs or other organs, bruising at the catheter insertion site, clot formation on the WATCHMAN Closure Device, cranial bleed, excessive bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, groin puncture bleed, hypotension, infection/pneumonia, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema, pulmonary vein obstruction, renal failure, stroke, thrombosis and transient ischemic attack. In rare cases death can occur.

Be sure to talk with your doctor so that you thoroughly understand all of the risks and benefits associated with the implantation of the WATCHMAN Device.