News | Atrial Fibrillation | May 30, 2017

Positive European Registry Results For Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device

Largest prospective study of the Watchman LAA device presented as late-breaking trial at Heart Rhythm 2017

Data was positive from the Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) Device from the EWOLUTION registry

May 30, 2017 — Data was positive for safety and efficacy rates of the Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) Device from the EWOLUTION registry presented during a late-breaking clinical trial session at Heart Rhythm 2017, the Heart Rhythm Society's 38th Annual Scientific Sessions. Data confirmed that the Boston Scientific Watchman device had a high implant success rate and was effective in stroke reduction for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF), including those patients deemed unsuitable for oral anticoagulation.

The prospective, single-arm, multicenter EWOLUTION registry evaluated 1,025 patients with non-valvular AF who have a high risk for stroke and systemic embolism. At one year post implantation of the device, the results demonstrated an 84 percent reduction in the annual stroke rate (1.1 vs. 7.2/100 pt-years)  as compared to predicted rates of untreated patients with similar risk profile and a reduction of 48 percent in the annual rate of major bleeding (2.6 vs. 5/100 pt-years) as compared to predicted rates for patients treated with warfarin. CHA2DS2 VASc and HAS-BLED scores have been validated to predict annual rates of ischemic stroke and bleeding, respectively. In order to provide context for the results given the absence of a control group, analyses were performed to compare EWOLUTION event rates to these historical rates for patients of a similar risk profile, Boston Scientific said.

"This impressively low ischemic stroke rate favors left atrial appendage closure as an important therapy for patients ineligible for long-term oral anticoagulation," said Lucas V.A. Boersma, M.D., Ph.D., study principal investigator and electrophysiologist at St. Antonius Hospital, the Netherlands. "The results further validate the utility of the Watchman device as an excellent alternative to anticoagulant therapy and its related bleeding risks for patients with non-valvular AF."

In the study, patients were enrolled at 47 centers throughout Europe, Russia and the Middle East. More than 70 percent of the patients were deemed unsuitable for short or long-term anticoagulation at the time of Watchman implantation. Transient ischemic attacks, ischemic stroke, vascular disease and a history of major bleeding were present in approximately half of the patients.

"We are pleased to see that these 'real-world' results reinforce the positive outcomes observed in our clinical trial program, despite the registry patients being older and sicker than those enrolled in our previous trials," said Kenneth Stein, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, rhythm management and global health policy, Boston Scientific.

The Watchman device was CE-marked in 2005 to prevent thrombus embolization from the left atrial appendage and reduce the risk of life-threatening bleeding events in patients with non-valvular AF who are eligible for anticoagulation therapy, and in 2012 the CE mark indication was expanded to include those who have a contraindication to anticoagulation therapy. 

In 2015, the device received FDA approval for patients with non-valvular AF who are at high stroke risk, suitable for warfarin and are seeking an alternative to long-term warfarin therapy. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began covering percutaneous LAAC therapy for Medicare beneficiaries in February 2016 when patients meet the specific criteria outlined in the agency's final National Coverage Determination (NCD).

Watch the VIDEO “Post-FDA Approval Experience of LAA Occluders at ACC.16,” and interview with David Holmes, M.D.

For more information: www.watchman.com


Related Content

News | Atrial Fibrillation

Sept. 11, 2024 — In the first national estimate in two decades, researchers at the University of California-San ...

Home September 11, 2024
Home
News | Atrial Fibrillation

July 24, 2024 — Volta Medical, a health technology company developing artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to assist ...

Home July 24, 2024
Home
News | Atrial Fibrillation

July 8, 2024 — Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is safe for treating patients with common types of atrial fibrillation (AF) ...

Home July 08, 2024
Home
News | Atrial Fibrillation

June 12, 2024 — A team of Ochsner Health cardiologists recently published an article in the Journal of the American ...

Home June 12, 2024
Home
News | Atrial Fibrillation

April 18, 2024 — New evidence-based research calls into question the conventional three-month blanking period ...

Home April 18, 2024
Home
News | Atrial Fibrillation

March 28, 2024 — Biosense Webster, Inc., a global leader in cardiac arrhythmia treatment and part of Johnson & Johnson ...

Home March 28, 2024
Home
News | Atrial Fibrillation

February 27, 2024 — Biosense Webster, Inc., a global leader in cardiac arrhythmia treatment and part of Johnson & ...

Home February 27, 2024
Home
News | Atrial Fibrillation

February 6, 2024 — Cortex announced the initiation of its RESOLVE-AF trial (NCT05883631), a study formally launched in ...

Home February 06, 2024
Home
News | Atrial Fibrillation

February 2, 2024 — Biosense Webster, Inc., a global leader in cardiac arrhythmia treatment and part of Johnson & Johnson ...

Home February 02, 2024
Home
News | Atrial Fibrillation

January 18, 2024 — Abbott announced the first global procedures have been conducted using the company's new Volt Pulsed ...

Home January 18, 2024
Home
Subscribe Now