Jump to content

Choose locationChoose Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location

We've expanded your view

You are now viewing all services in the Sutter Health network. You can change your location above to narrow your view to a medical group, hospital, city or zip.
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Diseases & Conditions
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Services
  • Heart and Vascular
  • Watchman Implant
Content

Watchman Implant for AFib

Atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heart rhythm, can leave you feeling unnerved and exhausted. Symptoms may include fluttering in your chest, skipped heartbeats, sweating and chest pain.

One cause of AFib may be valvular heart disease, treated with procedures such as cardiac ablation, cardiac implantable devices and cardioversion. But if a heart valve problem isn’t the cause, you have a condition called non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

If you have NVAF, your doctor may recommend a Watchman implant. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2015 for patients at high risk for bleeding, this device and procedure reduce stroke risk from AFib as effectively as warfarin (Coumadin), without warfarin’s long-term risk of bleeding.

Watchman implant

How It Works

Ninety percent of stroke-causing clots in people with NVAF come from the left atrial appendage—a part of the heart where blood cells can pool and stick together. The Watchman device closes off the left atrial appendage, preventing any blood clots from leaving it.

To install the Watchman, your doctor inserts a thin tube called a catheter into a vein in your groin until it reaches the heart’s upper right chamber, and then makes a small hole through the wall between the two upper heart chambers to reach the left atrial appendage.

Your doctor pushes the Watchman device through the catheter into the left atrial appendage, where it opens up like an umbrella and stays permanently, blocking any potential blood clots from entering the bloodstream. A thin layer of tissue grows over the device in about 45 days.

The Watchman implant may be a good choice if you:

  • Have non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).
  • Have an increased risk for stroke.
  • Are a candidate for warfarin (a blood thinner, also called Coumadin) therapy.
  • Have reason to seek a non-medical alternative to warfarin.

Chat with a Referral Specialist Monday - Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm PDT

Or call (888) 834-1788.

Related Content

  • Heart and Vascular Services
  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Electrophysiology (Arrhythmia)
  • Heart Rhythm Disorders

Health and Wellness

Healthcare Made Easier

Checking Your Blood Pressure

High blood is a major risk factor for hearts attacks, heart failure, stroke and kidney disease. Learn how to monitor your blood pressure at home.

Checking Your Blood Pressure

Services Near You

CPMC Pacific Heights Outpatient Center | 2333 Buchanan Street

CPMC Pacific Heights Outpatient Center | 2333 Buchanan Street

2333 Buchanan Street

San Francisco, CA 94115

(415) 600-6000

View All Related Locations

The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Annual Report
  • Awards
  • Community Benefit
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Giving
  • Find Care

  • Birth Centers
  • Care Centers
  • Emergency Rooms
  • Hospitals
  • Imaging
  • Labs
  • Surgery Centers
  • Urgent Care
  • Walk-In Care
  • View All >
  • Featured Services

  • Behavioral Health
  • Cancer Services
  • Family Medicine
  • Home Health and Hospice
  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatrics
  • Pregnancy
  • Primary Care
  • Women's Health
  • View All >
  • Patient Resources

  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Classes and Events
  • Estimate Costs
  • Flu Resources
  • Health and Wellness
  • Medical Records
  • Medicare
  • My Health Online
  • Pay a Bill
  • Symptom Checker
  • Our Team

  • For Employees
  • Physician Careers
  • Recruiting Events
  • Sutter Careers
  • Vendors
  • Volunteers
    • ADA Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    • LinkedIn Opens new window
    • YouTube Opens new window
    • Facebook Opens new window
    • Twitter Opens new window
    • Glassdoor Opens new window
    • Instagram Opens new window

    Copyright © 2021 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

    Cookie Policy

    We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

    Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences