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PFA procedure with stroke risks
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Jun 27 10:32am | Replies (31)Comment receiving replies
It's always your decision since it's your body and future at stake. The EP is just offering his/her studied advice based on their experience and learning.
The best EPs that I know of suggest a Watchman anyway, despite the success of previous or future ablations, because the disordered heart is permanently disordered. Just because the EP blocks the extra signals from causing your atrium to beat chaotically doesn't mean you don't still have that disordered state! And further, the disorder tends to progress for all but a very few people. This means that many of us, if not most of us, can expect to experience ectopy again in the future. For some, it happens inside of a year, for others it might be as long as ten years. But it happens so often that it's almost a given for the majority of AF sufferers: once you have it, you have it. And wouldn't it be better to have that Watchman insurance already in place? And save all the DOAC costs during the interim? If the Watchman shows no leakage at the 6 month point (done with a TEE) after a successful ablation, then you can opt to forego any further DOAC. At least, many EPs will agree to that.
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Thank you again for your message. Appointments here in Denver with an EP specialist are 15 minutes. I agreed to do the PFA, but at the last minute, EP added that he will also implant a Watchman device. I did not have any time then to discuss this with the EP or research it which makes me very uneasy, nervous and perplexed. Anyway, this would involve a multi device procedure. The Watchman's list of cons include Pericardial Effusion and Tamponade, device Embolization, Device Related Thrombosis, Stroke (even though Watchman is for avoiding stroke), but this can be due to formation of clots on new device mainly occurring days after device implantation! Since I cannot get another appointment with EP soon, I will talk to his NP. Hopefully she can detail how my body is suitable or not, as no analysis was done by EP regarding Watchmen. Anyway, I have tolerated Eliquis for 8 years now and can continue on it with doing just the PFA procedure (which 50% of patients say they had to do twice). As of now, I am leaning towards NO Watchman! I am surprised at myself for making this decision so difficult and causing so much stress! Thanks again for helping. Regards