Vim & Vigor - Spring 2020 - Community Healthcare System - 56

56

Ask The Expert

A Tool to
Prevent Stroke

CARDIOLOGIST KAIS YEHYAWI, MD, DISCUSSES
THE BENEFITS OF THE WATCHMAN™ IMPLANT
FOR PATIENTS WHO TAKE BLOOD THINNERS
FOR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

What is AFib? Why
do AFib patients
take blood thinners?

AFib is an irregular heart rhythm.
Because of the irregular heartbeat,
the small chamber of the heart
cannot squeeze out all of the blood,
so it pools in an area called the
appendage. Clots can form in this
appendage and those clots can travel
to the brain and cause a stroke.
People with AFib are often placed
on blood thinners to prevent stroke.

What is the
Watchman device and
how does it work?

Watchman is an implant device
that fits into the appendage. It is
designed to close off the appendage
permanently and keep blood from
clotting in that area. Patients who
have AFib and cannot take blood
thinners now have a viable option
to prevent stroke through use of the
Watchman device.

The Watchman procedure is minimally invasive. The Watchman
team places a catheter through
a vein in the groin and advances
the Watchman device into the
SPRING 2020 VIM & VIGOR

Might I need to continue taking blood
thinners even with the
Watchman implant?

Patients are usually weaned off
their blood thinners gradually over
several weeks. Typically, patients
with Watchman implants wind up
taking only baby aspirin.

Patients are screened carefully with
ultrasound. All factors including
the shape and size of the appendage
are taken into consideration. The
majority of screened patients will
qualify for Watchman.

Will the Watchman ever
need to be replaced?

Once the Watchman is in place in
the appendage, the body generates
a layer of cells to surround it. The
device becomes embedded into
the heart and will not need to be
removed or replaced. *

Do You
Have AFib?

Cardiologist Kais Yehyawi, MD, is one
of several physicians affiliated with
Community Healthcare System and
Community Care Network, Inc. who
perform the Watchman procedure. For
a physician referral, call 219-836-3477
or toll-free 866-836-3477.

The Watchman device.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WATCHMAN

Is Watchman implantation considered a
surgical procedure?

Cardiologist Kais
Yehyawi, MD

appendage under the guidance of
ultrasound and X-ray technology.
The procedure usually takes less
than an hour and patients typically
are discharged the next morning.

Are some patients
with AFib not able to
receive the Watchman?



Vim & Vigor - Spring 2020 - Community Healthcare System

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Contents
Vim & Vigor - Spring 2020 - Community Healthcare System - Cover1
Vim & Vigor - Spring 2020 - Community Healthcare System - Cover2
Vim & Vigor - Spring 2020 - Community Healthcare System - Contents
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