(Joplin, MO) – A trio of Freeman Health System interventional cardiologists were in high spirits as the 250th Watchman® implant procedure was successfully completed at Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute earlier this week.
Freeman Drs. Darwin Jeyaraj, Vigyan Bang, and Ryan Longnecker posed for a picture on February 6 to celebrate this rare milestone. Later, the three doctors and staff shared a “Watchman” cake.
Dr. Jeyaraj noted that the 250 number was a “big one.”
Freeman is the first hospital in the Joplin area to provide the Watchman implant, a device for patients who are at high risk for stroke and have atrial fibrillation not caused by a heart valve problem and need an alternative to blood thinners. Atrial fibrillation is a condition millions of Americans deal with every year, and the largest risk with this arrythmia is stroke
To prevent strokes caused by blood clots escaping from a small pouch inside the heart, the Watchman implant is inserted via tube up through the femoral artery and placed into the left atrial appendage of the heart. It’s in this area of the heart 90 percent of strokes result from atrial fibrillation. Over time, as new skin grows over the device, the pouch’s dangerous opening is effectively sealed shut.
The first minimally invasive Watchman surgery was successfully completed at Freeman in early 2020. Although Dr. Jeyaraj performed the actual 250th impact surgery on February 6, all three Freeman cardiologists perform roughly an equal amount of Watchman surgeries.
“We currently do the surgeries with conscious sedation, which means there is no anesthesia involved,” Dr. Jeyaraj said. “Most of the patients get to go home the same day. It’s usually a six-hour stay at the hospital.”
About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center — the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services — as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2020, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report named Freeman Health System the Best Hospital in Southwest Missouri for 2020. With more than 320 physicians on staff representing more than 80 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.
Reference:
Kevin McClintock, Media Relations Coordinator
Freeman Health System
417.434.3458
KSMcclintock@freemanhealth.com
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