The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a muscular pouch connected to the left atrium of the heart. During normal contractions (typically 60 to 80 beats per minute), the LAA serves as an additional reservoir for blood inside the heart. Unfortunately, during atrial fibrillation (AF or A-Fib), the atria lose their ability to rhythmically contract, and normal atrial contractions do not occur. As a result, blood pools in the LAA and individuals with AF are at greater risk for forming blood clots that travel to the brain and cause a stroke.

According to the American Heart Association, approximately 15 percent of all strokes occur in people with AF. On a worldwide basis, this translates into a potential at-risk population of close to 7 million people. Typically, patients with AF are treated with blood thinners, such as Warfarin (Coumadin), in order to prevent the formation of blood clots. However, Warfarin is a very difficult drug for patients to take and typically requires major changes in lifestyle and constant vigilance of diet and activities.

"Primarily known as a blood thinner, Warfarin is one of the most challenging medications to manage," said Randall Jones, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Coherex. "Warfarin side effects are frequent, often severe and include significant bleeding complications. As a result, many people are unable to take Warfarin. Studies estimate that up to 50 percent of patients at risk for AF-related stroke may be contraindicated to (unable to use) Warfarin."

According to Dr. Whisenant (who also serves as Director of the Structural Heart Program for Intermountain Medical Center), the Coherex WaveCrest marks a new step forward in LAA closure solutions. "Our experience with the first generation devices demonstrated that LAA closure can benefit A-Fib patients at risk for stroke by enabling them to discontinue Warfarin while reducing the risk of stroke," he said. "From what I saw in the procedure performed by Dr. Ruygrok, I am quite certain that the Coherex WaveCrest LAA Occluder System will meet its design objectives to improve safety for patients."

Source: Coherex Medical