St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center® Successfully Implants 500th WATCHMAN FLX™ Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device

Catholic Health’s St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center® (Roslyn, NY) announced today that it is the first on Long Island to successfully implant 500 of the latest-generation WATCHMAN FLX™ Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) Devices on patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). AF patients are given another option for treatment with the LAAC device and an opportunity to lower their risk for stroke. The WATCHMAN FLX device is an alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners for people with AF not caused by a heart valve problem, and is built upon the most studied and implanted LAAC device in the world. To date, St. Francis is the leading center on Long Island and in the NY Metro Area for WATCHMAN implants.

“October 29th is World Stroke Day, which serves as a timely reminder of the increased risk among people living with AF,” said System Vice President for Operations and Cardiovascular Service Line, Sumita Yadav. “Congratulations to the St. Francis team for 500 successful implantations, and thank you for your hard work and dedication to ensure our patients receive the best care.”

An estimated seven million Americans are affected by AF, and have a five times greater risk of stroke than those with normal heart rhythms. The WATCHMAN FLX device closes off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA) to keep harmful blood clots that can form from entering the blood stream and potentially causing a stroke. By closing off the LAA, the risk of stroke may be reduced, and over time, patients may be able to stop taking their blood thinner. The latest-generation technology has a new design to help treat more patients safely and effectively to ensure the best long-term outcomes. 

“We are delighted to offer our patients the latest technology and treatment to better their overall health and wellness when it comes to AF,” said St. Francis Hospital President Charles L. Lucore, MD, MBA. “Reaching this milestone is a testament to the dedication of The Heart Center brand and the hard work of our employees.”
 

Learn more about stroke care and atrial fibrillation services at Catholic Health. Call (866) MY-LI-DOC (866-695-4362) to find a Catholic Health physician near you.