One Year after my Watchman
One year after my Watchman, tests show the left atrial appendage occlusion is present with incomplete closure to the left atrial appendage. Does this mean the device has failed? Can the device be removed and a new one put in or must I go back on blood thinners?
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.
I have read of such instances and yes, the continuation or resumption of DOAC (direct-acting oral anti-coagulants) is indicated. However, your electrophysiologist/cardiologist would be the one to ask these questions as they know you best, and know your overall risk for stroke.
I can't answer your question about going in again and attempting to close it off again or redoing the entire affair. I would think it unlikely. Again, please consult your health care providers about this.
I am currently waiting for a date for PFA and during discussion with my electrophysiologist, the inserting of a Watchman was one of the things we discussed, and he said that he is not fully convinced on the device because of issues like leakage and the potential for some clotting around and on the Watchman. His comment is that if I am tolerating the Eliquis then just stay with that and don't have the Watchman installed. One less thing to fail.
I can understand his reservations. The success rate for an index ablation across the entire electrophysiologist world is a sorry 75%. But the very best EPs can claim rates higher than 85%, and their experience and skills make their Watchman insertions just as successful...or better. So, yes, we can all read that the Watchman doesn't work for everyone, but neither do ablations. In most cases, the experience of the surgeon is what makes the difference. If you would like to consult the top EPs in the USA, I know of two who have astoundingly good results: Dr. Andrea Natale at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute in Austin, and Dr. Pasquale Santangeli at Cleveland Clinic. They might be able to fix you up and leave you with having to take nothing more than a statin for the rest of your life. Might be worth a phone call.