New procedure minimizes stroke risk, eliminates need for blood thinners: Healthy You

Cinemally invasive cardiac procedure has made its way to United Regional Structural Heart Program, lowering the risk of stroke and minimizing the need for blood thinners. Natalie McCain spent some time there. So, Natalie, how would this procedure add to the local hospital's promise of comprehensive care? Well, Daryl, new technology like this continues to grow their structural heart program. Cardiologist Dr. Obiagwu and Doctor Kumar say the left atrial appendage occlusion procedure reduces stroke risk without the need for costly blood thinners. While United Regional Structural Heart Program may look the same, recently implemented advancements continue to change the game. We currently do advanced cardiac procedures here at United Regional. Bringing left atrial appendage occlusion is just adding to the umbrella of things that we do for our patients and able to offer our patients. For patients with atrial fibrillation, cardiologists are able to better prevent strokes that often form when the heart quivers and blood clots in its top left chamber thanks to left atrial appendage occlusion, or LAAO. When the blood clot forms here, it goes out of the heart and the path of least resistance would be to go up to the brain to cause a stroke. 90% of the strokes that happen in people with a fib, the blood clots, they've a look in that small pocket on the left upper chamber. Now we have catheter based therapist to fix this. So what will the procedure look like? We go from your groin, we pass it along to code a catheter all the way to the left upper chamber. We go into the pockets where the blood clot forms and we deploy what we call a left atrial appendage occluder. Here at United Regional. We intend to start doing the watchman. This has been proven to be very effective in permanently taking away the need to be on blood thinners. Blood thinners, they could be expensive, some people do not tolerate them and they bleed or bruise easily. While it may sound involved, the procedure is relatively short and Doctor Kumar assures patients will be at ease. The procedural is done under an anaesthetic and so patients are not aware of any pain or any sensation during the procedure. It is a fairly short procedure, takes approximately 45 minutes. Patients usually recover in the hospital the day after the procedure and often can go home five to six hours after the procedure or can choose to stay the night and go home the following day. So it's considered an outpatient, minimally invasive procedure, and as it puts you back on track, remaining close to home will keep you closer to the things you love most. When a patient is able to stay in the community with their own doctors next to their family and have a procedure done at the local hospital where it's a short drive from their house and receive all of their care here, it just makes it more comprehensive for the patient, adding to United Regionals comprehensive care. Now, both doctors say if you're a patient with atrial fibrillation currently experiencing negative side effects with blood thinners, you may want to speak with your primary care physician to see if LAAO is right for you. All right, good to see them looking out for those particular health risks right there. And so definitely go check them out if you were having those symptoms. Natalie, thank you so much for that report.