3 minute read
WellSpan Pioneers Use of Implantable Heart Devices
Implantation of WATCHMAN device Left atrial appendage with WATCHMAN implant
By Barry Sparks
WellSpan York Hospital is pioneering the use of implantable devices that prevent the risk of stroke in patients with an abnormal heartbeat.
These devices include the Watchman and Amulet devices and are designed for patients with atrial fibrillation, when electrical impulses that control the heartbeat don’t travel in an orderly way through the heart. As a result, blood may pool in a small pouch in the heart and form clots.
The Watchman device is about the size of a quarter and shaped like a parachute. It is used to close off the pouch, so blood clots can’t form. The device is an alternative to long-term use of blood thinners for patients who have atrial fibrillation.
The hospital rates in the top 10% of hospitals in the country, based on the volume of Watchman implant procedures. As of November 2022, WellSpan York Hospital had implanted 633 of the devices, including 320 Watchman FLX (the latest version of the device) and 50 Amulet devices. It was the first hospital in Pennsylvania to implant the latest version of the Watchman as well as Amulet devices.
“These are exciting and amazing times,” says Dr. Brian Schuler, who specializes in electrophysiology or treating cardiac problems that involve electrical activity and arrhythmia. “WellSpan York Hospital has assembled an incredibly talented, well-trained, and diverse team of innovators who are pushing the field forward. We are doing things that most people expect only from academic university institutions.”
WellSpan York Hospital’s team of experts, including cardiologists, electrophysiologists, interventional cardiologists, and nurses, work together to implant the Watchman under general anesthesia. Using advanced imaging, a physician inserts
a catheter carrying the device into a vein near the groin. The Watchman device seals off the opening to the pouch where clots can form. After implanting the Watchman device, heart tissue forms over and around the device, permanently sealing off the opening. Most patients are discharged after one night in the hospital and most can return to normal activity within a week. WellSpan York Hospital also is on the leading edge of developing new technology related to the procedure. In 2019, WellSpan cardiologists were among the first in the United States to employ Avail MedsystemsTM Dr. Brian Schuler, cardiology physician at WellSpan, specializing in electrophysiology. camera and video technology to collaborate with fellow physicians doing complex cardiovascular procedures. “Avail allows us to remotely collaborate on a case utilizing live-feed data from the equipment in the room,” says Schuler. In addition to the camera system, the team started to use a 4D CT scanner for real-time procedural guidance for more accurate and precise device implantations. WellSpan York Hospital established the country’s first 4D CT angio suite in 2019. “It was a game changer for us,” says Schuler. “The technology allows us to see the implant device from all angles. It allows us to perform and develop very precise placement. We are the only hospital in the world using this technology.” WellSpan York Hospital also is conducting clinical research in the field. It has participated in five studies related to the Watchman devices and three studies involving the Amulet device. “Our team works together toward the same goal — improving cardiovascular care,” Schuler says. “We think freely, innovate, and we are nimble. That’s why we believe we can be worldwide leaders in the field. We have an opportunity to change the field, and we don’t believe we should be limited. I’m very proud of our team.”