Baptist Health Paducah to offer info session on new heart procedure
When Mollie Trunnell of Gilbertsville heard about a new heart procedure at Baptist Health Paducah that would reduce her risk of stroke due to atrial fibrillation, she was one of the first to sign up.
When Mollie Trunnell of Gilbertsville heard about a new heart procedure at Baptist Health Paducah that would reduce her risk of stroke due to atrial fibrillation, she was one of the first to sign up.
“I lost my dad to a heart attack, and I had a heart cath and stent put in in 2001,” said Trunnell, 74. “I want to make sure I take care of myself. The chance of a stroke lessens, so I don’t have as much to worry about it.”
Trunnell was hospitalized at Baptist Health in February for AFib when cardiologist Martin Rains, MD, explained that she was a good candidate for the WATCHMAN™ Device, which offers select patients with AFib an alternative to blood thinners to prevent a potentially life-threatening stroke.
“Baptist Health Paducah is the first hospital in western Kentucky to offer this treatment,” Dr. Rains said. Only six hospitals in the state offer WATCHMAN™.
The WATCHMAN™ is implanted in the heart in a one-time procedure through a catheter, similar to a standard stent procedure. It is placed in the left atrial appendage of the heart, blocking off the part which 91 percent of all strokes related to AFib originate.
The procedure is done under general anesthesia and takes about an hour. Patients commonly stay in the hospital overnight.
“I’ve done great,” Trunnell said. “I’m tickled to death so far.”
In clinical trials, 92 percent of people stopped taking blood thinner just 45 days after the procedure.
“This is ideal for patients having problems on blood thinners, such as GI bleeds or recurrent nosebleeds, or those at risk for falls or injury, such as the elderly or people with active careers or hobbies that could suffer devastating effects from bleeding,” Dr. Rains said.
Dr. Rains and cardiologist Michael Faulkner MD, will speak about the Watchman procedure during an information session from 11 a.m. to noon, Friday, Nov. 16, at the Barnes Auditorium, second floor of the Carson-Myre Heart Center. Refreshments will be provided.
To register, phone 270.575.8349.