Crouse Cardiology Team Marks 100th Watchman Implant

Congratulations to the Miron Cardiac Care Center team on achieving their 100th Watchman left atrial appendage closure implant since 2017. The Watchman implant offers an alternative for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib) who take warfarin on a long-term basis to help prevent blood clots and possible stroke. The implant acts as a safety net by closing off the left atrial appendage and catching harmful blood clots before they enter the bloodstream.

Crouse was the first hospital in the area to offer the Watchman, which is a mesh device inserted through a catheter in the femoral vein in the groin and guided into the patient’s heart, where it can filter potential blood clots and prevent possible stroke.

“This is a milestone that underscores the cardiac care team’s commitment to offering leading-edge technology to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients,” says Crouse Chief Medical Officer/Chief Operating Officer Seth Kronenberg, MD.

Crouse cardiologists Joseph Battaglia, MD; Kwabena Boahene, MD; and Matthew Gorman, MD, were the first in the region to offer the implant to patients with AFib. About five million people in the United States suffer from AFib, which occurs when the upper and lower chambers of the heart stop beating in harmony. Instead, the upper chambers beat irregularly and stop moving blood through and out of the heart.