Implant device helps prevent clotting
2013-03-10 18:52
-
Us
An old fashioned story by Mary Louisa Molesworth (1836-1921). The author of beloved children's...
Now R150.00
buy now
Washington - An implant device designed by US firm Boston
Scientific to prevent strokes in high risk people helps avert blood clotting, a
new study said.
The umbrella-shaped device called "Watchman" can
also serve as an alternative to treatment with anticoagulants of patients
suffering from arterial fibrillation, a study by the manufacturer said.
The trials involved 407 patients at 41 sites and compared
the "Watchman" to warfarin, an anticoagulant medication, said the
study.
Of the people surveyed, 269 used "Watchman" and
138 took the blood thinner warfarin.
The results show that "the device performed similar to
warfarin with a rate ratio of 1.07", said the report, presented at an
annual conference of the American College of Cardiology.
"The results ... add to the wealth of previously
published data confirming the utility of the 'Watchmen' device as an option for
the reduction of stroke in high risk patients," said Kenneth Stein, chief
medical officer with the cardiac rhythm management department of Boston
Scientific.
"'Watchman' is the only device-based alternative to
anticoagulation that has undergone rigorous scientific study," he added.
"Watchman" is introduced into the heart via a
catheter that goes through a vein in the groin.
Atrial fibrillation affects approximately 15 million
patients worldwide.
Patients have a five times greater risk of stroke.
"Watchman" was approved for sale in Europe in
2005 and some countries in Asia in 2009, according to Boston Scientific.
The results of the study will be submitted to the US Food
and Drug Administration as part of a process to obtain approval for its
marketing in the United States.
