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New implant used successfully against stroke

On Wednesday, doctors in Texas and California simultaneously implanted a device to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Medical professionals at the Austin and Thousand Oaks hospitals performed an almost simultaneous implantation of the device to occlude the left atrial appendage.

“The new implant builds on the most extensively studied and most frequently implanted LAAC device in the world and serves as a treatment option for patients with atrial fibrillation that is not caused by a heart valve disorder, so-called non-valvular atrial fibrillation,” explains one of the surgeons in Thousand Oaks. “This way we can treat more patients safely and effectively.”

Effective alternative

It is estimated that up to six million Americans have an irregular heartbeat that feels like a tremor. These patients are five times more likely to have a stroke than people with a regular heart rhythm.
“The device serves as a safe and effective alternative to reducing the risk of stroke for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, especially for those who have compelling reasons to forego blood thinners,” explains a surgeon in Austin.

This technology aims to reduce the risk of stroke by occluding a specific area of ​​the heart, the left atrial appendage, to prevent dangerous blood clots from entering the bloodstream and preventing the possibility of a stroke. By occluding the left atrial appendage, patients can dispense with blood thinners such as warfarin over time.

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and takes about an hour. Patients usually stay in the hospital overnight and are discharged the following day.

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