Left Atrial Appendage Closure

Reduce Your Risk of Stroke from AFib

When you have atrial fibrillation, your heart has an abnormal rhythm and doesn’t pump blood as it should. Blood can pool in your heart and form clots, particularly in a sac called the left atrial appendage (LAA). If blood clots escape from the LAA and travel to your brain, they can cause a life-threatening stroke. 

At UMass Memorial Health, we offer an advanced procedure to block the opening of the LAA so clots don’t escape. We perform left atrial appendage closure using the WATCHMAN implantable device in people whose AFib is not caused by heart valve disease. LAA closure can reduce your risk of stroke for a lifetime. 

In addition to preventing stroke, LAA closure can also help people with AFib stop taking anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin. In a clinical trial, 96% of patients were able to discontinue their blood thinner 45 days after getting an implant. 

WATCHMAN Device for AFib

Left atrial appendage closure (also called left atrial appendage occlusion) using the WATCHMAN is a one-time, minimally invasive procedure. It doesn’t require open-heart surgery. Cardiologists with specialized training in heart rhythm disorders perform the procedure in our state-of-the-art electrophysiology lab. Most people go home the same day or the day after their procedure. 

During LAA closure, your doctor: 

• Inserts a catheter that contains the WATCHMAN device through a vein in your groin
• Guides the catheter to the upper chambers of your heart (atria)
• Makes a small hole between the left and right atria to access the LAA
• Implants the WATCHMAN, which expands like a parachute to block the LAA

Specialized AFib Care in Worcester

We offer left atrial appendage closure procedures at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Your care team in Worcester coordinates follow-up monitoring with your referring physician. We’re always here to answer any questions you may have before, during and after your procedure