New Life-Changing Procedure Only offered at Longview Regional Medical Center Reduces Stroke Risk in Afib Patients
11/5/2018
Longview, TX (October 24, 2018)— Longview Regional Medical Center recently became the first and only hospital in Longview to offer patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AFib) an alternative to long-term anticoagulant medications (“blood thinners”) with a left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) implant.
Dr. Jorge Massare, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Longview Regional Medical Center, is the first specialist in Longview to perform the procedure in Gregg County.
“This is a life-changing procedure for some patients with atrial fibrillation that require an alternative to long-term blood thinner medications,” Dr. Massare said.
This device is the first and only FDA-approved implant proven in extensive clinical trials to reduce stroke and clot risk in most patients with AFib.
The implant, which has been performed in more than 50,000 patients worldwide, closes off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA). For patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, the left atrial appendage (LAA) is believed to be the source of the majority of stroke-causing blood clots. Closing off the LAA reduces the risk of stroke and allows patients to eventually stop taking blood thinners.
This procedure adds on to a wide variety of very advanced minimally invasive cardiovascular procedures currently being performed with high success rates at Longview Regional Medical Center by its board-certified cardiologists, some of which were pioneered in the area, including coronary and peripheral interventions, transcutaneous aortic valvular replacements (TAVR), aortic aneurysm endovascular repairs (AAA repair), carotid artery stenting, complex arrhythmia ablations, pacemaker and defibrillator implantations (including the latest leadless miniature pacemaker), and laser lead extractions.
How the Implant Works:
The device is about the size of a quarter and shaped like an umbrella. A cardiologist introduces the tightly folded device mounted on a catheter through a small hole in the patient's groin (femoral vein), and from there into the heart. The device is then expanded and released in place, sealing off the LAA. This prevents clots from forming and breaking loose to the brain or other parts of the body. Normal heart tissue eventually grows over the device allowing for the safe discontinuation of blood thinner medications, except for Aspirin, which the patients require long-term. The entire procedure usually takes about an hour and doesn't require open surgery. Most patients are usually discharged the next day. The patients are typically discharged on a short course of warfarin following implant. More than 90 percent of those who received the implant stop taking the blood thinner after 30-45 days.
Who is a Candidate for the Implant?
Patients with AFib and one of the following condition:
- gastrointestinal bleeding
- previous brain bleed
- easy bruising
- frequent falls or increased fall risk
- high-risk occupations to take blood thinners
- an appropriate rationale not to take anticoagulants long-term
For more information, please contact the Regional Clinics Cardiology office at (903) 757-4691.
Back