ASK THE PHYSICIAN
Raffaele Corbisiero, M.D., F.A.C.C.
Attending Cardiac Electrophysiologist and Division
Director, Electrophysiology and Pacing, answers your
question.
Q: I’ve got that irregular heartbeat called “atrial
fibrillation” and my doctor has me taking warfarin to
keep blood clots from forming. I’m really not happy taking a blood
thinner and wanted to know if there are any other options out there.
~Mike S., Piscataway, NJ
A: Mike, you’ve asked an important question, which I am glad to
answer with a resounding “Yes, there is!” Deborah Heart and Lung
Center offers a terrific new technology that gives a non-surgical al-
ternative to long-term warfarin therapy: the WATCHMAN™ left atri-
al appendage closure implant. The implant, delivered via the groin,
closes off the left atrial appendage (LAA), keeping harmful blood clots
from leaving the LAA and entering the bloodstream.
As patients with atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) get older, their risk for
stroke increases, as well as their risk of bleeding from blood thinners.
With the risk of stroke reduced, patients usually are able to stop taking
oral anticoagulants like warfarin over time – welcome news for those
seeking a non-drug alternative to manage their stroke risk from A-Fib.
This technology is one of two non-pharmacologic approaches that
Deborah offers to patients with A-Fib. The other technology is stereo-
taxis ablation, which gets rid of the abnormal signals. Stereotaxis ab-
lation is performed in our stereotaxis robotic lab for a safer and more
effective procedure.
Please contact Deborah for an appointment — I look forward to
meeting you!
Raffaele Corbisiero, MD, FACC is attending cardiac electrophysiologist
and division director, electrophysiology and pacing, at Deborah Heart
and Lung Center. For an appointment or more information about how
Deborah Heart and Lung Center’s leading-edge technologies can im-
prove your quality of life, call 800-555-1990 or request info or an ap-
pointment at www.demanddeborah.org.
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