After Your WATCHMAN™ Implant Procedure
Post-Procedure Guidelines
45 Days After Your Implant
Your doctor will instruct you to take warfarin and aspirin after your procedure. After your WATCHMAN Implant has been in place for a minimum of 45 days, your doctor will take pictures of your heart using a test called a TEE (transesophageal echocardiogram) to determine if the implant has closed the opening of your left atrial appendage (LAA). Your doctor may stop your warfarin medication at that time, depending on the result of this test. If your doctor chooses to stop your warfarin, he/she will prescribe a new blood thinning medication called clopidogrel (Plavix®) until 6 months after your implant procedure, and your ongoing aspirin dose may increase.
If the TEE that is performed at around 45 days shows that the opening of the LAA is not adequately closed, another TEE may be scheduled at around 6 months to re-evaluate whether adequate closure has occurred.
12 Months After Your Implant
About 12 months after your WATCHMAN Implant, your doctor may schedule another TEE to check on the device and make sure that your LAA is sealed.
WATCHMAN Device Implant Card
When to Call Your Doctor
Your healthcare team will provide specific guidelines for when you should contact them. But be sure to call your doctor right away if you:
- Have any pain
- Experience any side effects from your medication, including bleeding, headaches, nausea, vomiting or rash
- Miss taking or change the dosage of your medication
- Make any lifestyle changes