The Hindu Business Line : Care Hospital to screen for atrial fibrillation

CARE Hospital will start screening patients suffering from Atrial Fibrillation (a condition in which the upper chambers of the heart beat too fast leading to blood clots) for implanting `Watchman' device.

Care Hospital is the only hospital outside the US and Europe selected for US FDA-approved research study. In all, 40 hospitals and research institutes, including 10 from Europe, are conducting the study.

Prof. Zoltan Turi, Director of Cooper Vascular Center at Cooper University Hospital (US), said `Atrial Fibrillation' could cause blood to stagnate and form clots in the left atrial appendage area of the heart. When these clots entered the blood circulation, they might cause stroke and other complications.

The present practice involved blood-thinning medication using anti-coagulants. This, however, called for periodical observation, a time consuming and costly procedure. It might also lead to side effects that included bleeding.

The Watchman device, resembling a balloon top, would keep harmful blood clots from entering the blood stream.

"Doctors guide this device into the heart through a vein in the leg. It soon become part of the organ," Prof. Turi said.

He said this method would help avoid usage of medicines for a longer duration. "It is also a low risk and a low cost method," he said.

Dr B. Somaraju, Chairman of Care Hospital, said the traditional practice either involved under or over treatment, leaving scope for risks. There was a need for frequent testing.

The hospital planned to implant this device in 100 patients free of cost, beginning September. In the US, the device has, so far, been implanted in 500 patients.

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