Woodland Heights Offering Upgraded Option for Atrial Fibrillation Patients

7/5/2021

Lufkin Texas – Woodland Heights is now offering patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) an upgraded version of the implant the facility has been inserting in patients since April 2018. The device is an alternative to long-term warfarin medication.

“We are excited to have this new generation left atrial appendage closure device,” states Dr. Subramanya Venkata, electrophysiologist/cardiologist, and one of the first to implant the new device locally. “This is something that will help patients with potentially difficult anatomy with more sizing options. It is potentially safer and has the capability of full recapture and re-deployment an unlimited number of times.”

For patients with AF who are considered suitable for warfarin by their physicians but who have reason to seek a non-drug alternative, the new device is an implant alternative to reduce their risk of AF-related stroke. It closes off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA) to keep harmful blood clots from the LAA 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 warfarin.

“This implant has been life-changing for our patients in that they are no longer on a daily medication,” said Vivek Mangla, M.D., electrophysiologist/cardiologist and one of the first to implant the new device locally. “With this new version, we hope to improve the lives of even more by reducing their risk of an atrial fibrillation-related stroke.”

In the past three years, the cardiovascular team at Woodland Heights has implanted almost 50 of the devices. The implantation is a one-time procedure that usually lasts about an hour. Following the procedure, patients typically need to stay in the hospital for 24 hours.

Back