McLEOD ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIST
OFFERS STROKE ADVICE FOR
PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
Rajesh Malik, MD
Medical Director of Electrophysiology | McLeod Cardiology Associates
What is Atrial Fibrillation?
Atrial Fibrillation is a heart condition where
the upper chamber of the heart beats too
fast. This can cause blood to pool and form
clots in an area of the heart called the left
atrial appendage. If a blood clot does form, it
can travel through an artery to the brain and
cause a stroke.
People with untreated atrial fibrillation may
be at greater risk for stroke than people with
normal heart rhythms. In atrial fibrillation,
the left atrial appendage, a small pouch
located on the top of the heart, is believed to
be the source of a majority of stroke-causing
blood clots.
Anyone can have a stroke no matter what
age, race or gender. The chances of stroke
increase with the following risk factors:
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol
• Sleep Apnea
Stroke is the most common and perhaps
the most feared complication of atrial
fibrillation.
How can you reduce your risk of stroke?
Medications like anticoagulants or blood
thinners can reduce the risk of blood clots
that could lead to stroke. Anti-platelet
medicines, including aspirin, keep platelets in
the blood from sticking together and forming
clots. Anti-clotting medicines, such as
Warfarin, also help prevent clots from forming
in your blood.
Blood thinners work well for many patients;
however, there are reasons why some patients
do not take blood thinners. While they
prevent blood clots by thinning the blood,
anticoagulants can also increase the risk of
bleeding problems. When a bleeding event
occurs, like a cut taking longer than normal to
stop bleeding, it is usually easily treated. But,
in some cases, bleeding can be quite serious
and require hospitalization.
and over time patients may be weaned off
their blood thinning medications.
To perform the WATCHMAN procedure,
the implant is guided via a catheter inserted
through a vein in the upper leg. Once the
implant is in position in the left atrial
appendage it is deployed open - similar to
the opening up of an umbrella. The implant
remains permanently in the heart.
After the procedure, patients are
monitored overnight in the hospital during
their recovery, and discharged home the
next day. After a few months, patients may
be able to stop taking their blood thinning
medications entirely.
WATCHMAN
Patients who have atrial fibrillation without
significant heart valve disease, and who are
on blood thinning medications, may be a
candidate for a device now available at the
McLeod Heart and Vascular Institute called
the WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure
Device. The WATCHMAN is implanted at the
opening of the left atrial appendage and is
intended to prevent blood clots from entering
the blood stream and potentially causing a
stroke. The device is a one-time implant that
does not need to be replaced.
Who is a Candidate for the WATCHMAN
The WATCHMAN is for patients who
take anticoagulant or blood thinning
medications to reduce their risk of stroke,
but their physician is recommending the
implanting of the device as an alternative to
long-term of use these drugs. The WATCHMAN
implant device is not recommended for
patients whose atrial fibrillation is due to
significant heart valve disease.
By closing off the left atrial appendage, the
source of more than 90% of stroke-causing
blood clots, the risk of stroke may be reduced
To find out if you are a candidate for the
WATCHMAN device, please call McLeod
Cardiology Associates at 843-667-1891.
Questions you should
ask your doctor about
atrial fibrillation:
• What is the cause of my
atrial fibrillation?
• What is my risk of having
a stroke?
• What tests will I need?
• What can help reduce my
stroke risk?
• Do I need blood thinners
to avoid a stroke?
• What are some of the
possible risks and side
effects of blood thinners?
• What is the long term
effect of atrial fibrillation
on my heart?
Dr. Rajesh Malik is a board-certified electrophysiologist with McLeod Cardiology Associates. He serves as the Medical Director of Electrophysiology for the
McLeod Heart and Vascular Institute. As the Medical Director, Dr. Malik led the team that brought the WATCHMAN technology to McLeod. McLeod is the only
hospital in the region offering the WATCHMAN implant device.
52
FEBRUARY 2016
SHEMAGAZINE.COM