Electrophysiologist Sheetal Chandhok, MD, assisted by William Gray, MD, performed the first WATCHMAN FLX implant at Bryn Mawr Hospital, part of Main Line Health’s Lankenau Heart Institute.

“Lankenau Heart Institute is committed to providing safe, compassionate, clinically advanced cardiac care to our patients. The opportunity to pilot innovative solutions like the WATCHMAN FLX is critical to helping us achieve this, and we are honored to have been the first in the Philadelphia region to implant this device,” said Dr. Gray, System Chief of Cardiovascular Disease at Main Line Health, who has been involved with research in this approach for almost 20 years.

Up to six million Americans are affected by atrial fibrillation (AF) – an irregular heartbeat that feels like a quivering heart. People with AF may be at greater risk for stroke than those with normal heart rhythms. Traditionally, blood thinners have been used as a method of treatment to reduce stroke risk in patients with AF. However, long-term blood thinner use can lead to increased bleeding risk, even as a result of small wounds. 

The WATCHMAN FLX implant is an alternative to blood thinners. The implant works by closing off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA) to keep harmful blood clots that can form in 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 blood thinners.

Dr. Chandhok at Bryn Mawr Hospital was the first in Pennsylvania to implant the WATCHMAN LAAC in 2015, an earlier version of the implant. WATCHMAN FLX, the newest version of the implant, has an updated design to help treat more patients safely and effectively to ensure the best long-term outcomes. 

“Many patients with atrial fibrillation have concerns about the long-term risks of blood thinners, but also don’t want to forego this medication because they know it is a critical part of managing their stroke risk,” says Dr. Chandhok. “The WATCHMAN FLX implant is an alternative that offers our patients peace of mind and a better quality of life.”

Implanting the WATCHMAN Device 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. The WATCHMAN Implant has been approved in Europe since 2005 and is FDA-approved in the United States. It has been implanted in more than 110,000 patients and is approved in more than 70 countries around the world.

Founded in 1985, Main Line Health is a not-for-profit health system serving Philadelphia and its western suburbs. Main Line Health's commitment—to deliver advanced medicine for treating and curing disease, playing an important role in prevention and disease management as well as training physicians and other health care providers—reflects our intent to be the region's premier choice for clinical care, research, and education. A team of nearly 13,000 employees and more than 2,000 physicians care for patients throughout the Main Line Health System.

At Main Line Health's core are four of the region's most respected acute care hospitals—Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital and Riddle Hospital—as well as one of the nation's premier facilities for rehabilitative medicine, Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital.

Main Line Health also includes Mirmont Treatment Center for drug and alcohol recovery; Main Line Health HomeCare & Hospice, which includes skilled home health care, hospice and home infusion services; Main Line Health Centers, primary and specialty care, lab and radiology, and other outpatient services located in Broomall, Collegeville, Concordville, Exton, King of Prussia and Newtown Square; Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, a biomedical research organization; and Main Line HealthCare, one of the region's largest multispecialty physician networks.

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The Lankenau Heart Institute is Main Line Health's premier, comprehensive cardiovascular medicine and surgery program. Lankenau Heart Institute brings together the clinical expertise of all four Main Line Health acute care hospitals and community cardiology practices to ensure that patients receive a level of quality, service, and experience that is unprecedented in the region. Through the system-wide coordination of services, Lankenau Heart Institute delivers preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative cardiovascular services at each of our locations including Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital, Paoli Hospital and Riddle Hospital.

Lankenau Heart Institute continues to be an innovator in the use of beating-heart techniques and robotic-assisted procedures for coronary artery revascularization, minimally invasive and transcatheter approaches for valve repair and replacement, complex aortic surgery and heart rhythm disorders. With our growing experience and focus on minimally invasive techniques, Lankenau Heart Institute has expanded participation in clinical trials year over year. Our physicians are frequently invited to participate in clinical/medical device trials, many of these designed to facilitate and expand the use of minimally invasive approaches and procedures.

With a collaborative team of expert consultative cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and specially trained advance practice nurses and technologists, Lankenau Heart Institute is dedicated to managing and treating patients with simple to complex cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, aortic disease, coronary and peripheral vascular disease, heart rhythm disorders and valve disease. Our team of cardiologists and cardiac specialists provide patients and their families with expert cardiac care, close to home.