What You Can Expect During This Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation
What to Expect During Your WATCHMAN Procedure
Your doctor will implant the WATCHMAN during a minimally invasive procedure that will take about an hour. Your doctor will make a small incision in your upper leg and insert a narrow tube. Your doctor then guides WATCHMAN into your heart’s LAA. Your anesthesiologist will use general anesthesia to put you in a sleeplike state and control any pain. You probably will need to stay in the hospital overnight.
WATCHMAN is the only implant approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proven to reduce stroke risk in people with atrial fibrillation. Watch this video to learn more about how WATCHMAN works.
After Your WATCHMAN Procedure
Following your WATCHMAN procedure, you'll take blood thinners for 45 days or until your LAA is permanently closed off. During this time, heart tissue will grow over the implant to form a barrier against blood clots. Your doctor will monitor this process by taking images of your heart to see when you can stop taking blood-thinning medication.
Your doctor will then prescribe a medicine called clopidogrel (Plavix®) and aspirin for you to take for six months. You’ll continue to take a daily aspirin long term. Once you’re no longer taking blood thinners, you won’t have the unpleasant side effects and concerns associated with the medication, such as the increased risk of bleeding, the need for regular blood tests and dietary restrictions. WATCHMAN can help you live a more comfortable life with less stress and worry.