The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 23, Number 10 | Page 32

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | December 2017
Ask the Physician
I’ve got that irregular heartbeat called “Atrial Fibrillation” and my doctor has me taking warfarin to keep
blood clots from forming. I’m really not happy taking a blood thinner and wanted to know if there are
any other options out there.
Drew K., Whippany, NJ
Drew, you’ve asked an important question, which I am glad to answer with a resounding “Yes, there is!” Deborah
Heart and Lung Center offers a terrific new technology that gives a non-surgical alternative to long-term warfarin
therapy: the WATCHMAN left atrial appendage closure implant. This device provides a non-surgical alternative to
long-term warfarin therapy. The implant, delivered via the groin, closes off the left atrial appendage (LAA), keeping
harmful blood clots from leaving the LAA and entering the bloodstream.
As patients with atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) get older, their risk for stroke increases, as well as their risk of bleeding
from blood thinners. With the risk of stroke reduced, patients are usually able to stop taking oral anticoagulants like
warfarin over time – welcome news for those seeking a non-drug alternative to manage their stroke risk from A-Fib.
This technology is one of the two non-pharmac ologic approaches Deborah offers to patients with A-Fib. The other
technology is the STEREOTAXIS ABLATION procedure, to get rid of the abnormal signals. The ablation procedure is
done in our stereotaxis robotic lab for a more effective and safer procedure.
Please contact Deborah for an appointment—I look forward to meeting you!
Raffaele Corbisiero, MD, FACC
Attending Cardiac Electrophysiologist
Division Director, Electrophysiology and Pacing
Deborah Heart and Lung Center
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