New stroke risk reduction technology designed to advance procedural performance
and safety, treat wider range of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation
December 17th 2020 – Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center now offers the WATCHMAN FLX™ for patients who have a high risk of stroke with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) who need an alternative to oral anticoagulation therapy by permanently closing off the left atrial appendage-the area of the heart where stroke-causing blood clots commonly form in NAVF.
“Built upon the success of the WATCHMAN™ platform, this next generation WATCHMAN FLX™ device is designed to offer improved procedural outcomes for patients, including reduced complication risk, said Dr. David Wesiman, electrophysiologist on staff at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. “We look forward to bringing these benefits to our patients at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center who need an alternative to the bleeding risk and lifestyle challenges associated with the long-term use of blood thinners.” 
This technology features a new, fully rounded design offering physicians the ability to safely enter, and maneuver within the left atrial appendage. It is the first LAAC device that can be fully recaptured, repositioned and redeployed for precise placement, and the new frame design allows for optimal device engagement with the tissue for long-term stability and a faster, more complete seal.
“This advanced technology gives us a new option to treat patients who are at high risk for stroke, that could also enable them to have a better long-term quality of life,” said Teresa Urquhart, chief executive officer for the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center. “We remain committed to providing patients in Palm Beach County with comprehensive cardiovascular treatment options close to home, and in a safe environment.”
Atrial Fibrillation is a common heart disorder which occurs when electrical signals in the heart become irregular, causing the heart’s upper chamber to beat out of rhythm. Atrial fibrillation requires immediate medical attention because it could lead to a life-threatening stroke, which is otherwise preventable.
When it comes to you, your family, and your health, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center and its cardiovascular team knows what it take to give you the care you need quickly and compassionately. During a health emergency, you need health care you can trust. At Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, we believe that is exactly what you will find. For more information on our cardiac services go to www.pbgmc.com.
About Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center:
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center is a 199-bed acute care hospital serving the medical and healthcare needs of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast for over 50 years. The hospital was the first in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast to perform open-heart surgery and has since remained one of the area’s leading heart hospitals, having performed nearly 19,000 open-heart surgeries and more than 100,000 cardiac catheterizations to date.
The Heart & Vascular Institute at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center offers comprehensive cardiac care and advanced minimally-invasive procedures including Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), MitraClip, and Watchman. The hospital is the first in Palm Beach, Broward and Martin County to adopt the minimally invasive convergent approach to treat patients with atrial fibrillation. The hospital’s outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program is designed for people recovering from a heart attack, coronary bypass or valve surgery, and angioplasty or stent procedures.
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center offers advanced orthopedic care to our community. Some of the services offered include: total joint replacements for hip, knee and shoulder, sports medicine, arthroscopy, podiatry, fracture management and inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation. In 2019, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center was the only hospital in the State of Florida to utilize the NAVIO robotic-assisted surgical system to perform total and partial knee replacements.
Additional services include an Advanced Certified Primary Stroke Center, diagnostic imaging, general and robotic surgery, an Epilepsy Program and 24-hour emergency care. Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center’s Emergency Department offers all private rooms and is equipped with technology to help increase patient comfort, reduce wait times and provide up-to-the-minute patient status, as well as immediate access to film-based radiological images, interpretations and related data. The hospital’s Epilepsy Program is the first of its kind in Palm Beach County to have a dedicated Epilepsy Monitoring Unit that is equipped with long-term video monitoring, a specialized form of an EEG for patients who suffer from seizures. The hospital acquired the da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System which can be used across a spectrum of minimally-invasive procedures such as cardiovascular, colorectal, general surgery, gynecology, urology and more.
The hospital was the recipient of the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus from 2015 – 2020 and also was named a High Performance Hospital for Heart Failure in U.S. News and World Report’s 2020-2021 Best Hospitals. Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center was also named as the best heart center in Palm County from the Palm Beach Post 2020 Best of Palm Beach County Awards. For more information or for a complimentary physician referral, please call (833)-619-8831 or visit www.pbgmc.com.
