Expanding Treatment Options for AFib Patients

Dr. Sanjay Kunapuli

Dr. Rajesh Venkataraman A trial fibrillation (AFib) is a heart condition that causes an irregular heartbeat. If you’re experiencing AFib, it may feel like your heart is skipping a beat or fluttering in your chest. You may experience dizziness, weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, sweating and anxiety — or you may have no symptoms at all with AFib.

AFib is a serious condition that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heartrelated complications, so it’s important to get treated. Treatment varies for each patient, but options may include:

Medications, such as blood thinners and medications to control heart rhythms.

Ablation procedures, which use electrical signals to destroy the cells causing heart rhythm problems.

Implanted devices designed to regulate your heart rate.

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY FOR AFIB TREATMENT Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital was the first in northwest Harris county to implant the Watchman™ device for AFib treatment. Dr. Sanjay Kunapuli, cardiologist, and Dr. Rajesh Venkataraman, electrophysiologist, both with Houston Methodist Willowbrook, performed the implant procedure in May 2020.

The Watchman is a tiny, permanent implant that provides an alternative to blood thinners, which are typically used to prevent stroke, for those with AFib not caused by a heart valve problem. It is designed for patients who can no longer take blood thinners due to complications, such as people with a history of major bleeding due to the drug’s side effects, or those who are at higher risk of bleeding from an injury due to active lifestyles or hazardous work.

REDUCING STROKE RISK “Because of their irregular heartbeat pattern, patients with AFib often experience blood pooling in a pocket of the heart called the left atrial appendage,” said Kunapuli. “If a blood clot escapes the appendage and moves into an artery, it can eventually block the flow of blood to the brain and cause an ischemic stroke.”

The Watchman works by plugging off the appendage and preventing blood from pooling and clotting. “Eventually, heart tissue grows over the Watchman to form a natural barrier against blood clots,” said Venkataraman. A SAFE ALTERNATIVE The Watchman is placed through a narrow tube that’s inserted through a small incision in the patient’s leg and guided to the heart. It takes about an hour to implant the device, and most patients will go home the next day.

“The Watchman has been studied for more than 20 years, and more than 100,000 people have received the implant worldwide,” said Venkataraman. “It’s a safe alternative that can provide a very significant benefit for patients.”

Schedule an Appointment

To find a doctor or schedule an appointment with a specialist at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, call 281.737.2500.