MADISONVILLE, KY — The team at Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville announced that they have successfully performed their first procedure using Abbott’s Amplatzer Amulet Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Occluder, a minimally invasive therapy to treat people in the U.S. with atrial fibrillation (AFib) who are at risk of ischemic stroke but who cannot take blood thinners due to their bleeding risk or have a preference to not take them. This latest advancement from Abbott – a leading manufacturer of innovative and life-changing structural heart solutions – completely and immediately seals the LAA, eliminating the need for blood-thinning medication following the procedure. 

“This new technology serves as a life-changing treatment option for our patients with atrial fibrillation who are at risk of stroke,” said Dr. Mohammad Akram, the cardiologist that performed the procedure this week.  “We strive to offer our patients the best available technology even in our rural area.”
 
AFib, the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, occurs when the upper chambers of the heart (atria) beat out of coordination with the lower chambers (ventricles) and contract rapidly and irregularly. In some people with AFib, the LAA – a small, naturally occurring pocket connected to the upper left chamber of the heart – can allow blood to pool and increase the likelihood of a clot formation, which can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. For patients with AFib who are unable to take blood thinners long-term, physicians may perform procedures to prevent blood clots from leaving the LAA to reduce the risk of stroke. 

“The Amplatzer Amulet LAA Occluder can treat a broad range of anatomies and has the widest range of occluder sizes on the market today.  It is also recapturable and repositionable to help ensure optimal placement for the patient,” added Dr. Akram.

Abbott recently announced that the Amplatzer Amulet LAA Occluder received FDA approval.