If you’ve been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib), your doctor will recommend treatments to control your heart’s rate and rhythm and reduce your risk of stroke.1,2 The ablation and WATCHMAN Implant procedures can help manage AFib symptoms and prevent serious complications.
Did you know it’s possible to get the WATCHMAN Implant at the same time as an ablation? Continue reading to learn more about getting an ablation and WATCHMAN Implant in one combined procedure.
There are risks associated with all medical procedures. Please talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of the WATCHMAN Implant.
What is cardiac ablation?
Cardiac ablation (also called catheter ablation) is a procedure that can stop signals that cause an irregular heartbeat to help improve AFib symptoms.3 This procedure is a preferred treatment to control the heart’s rhythm for some people with AFib and heart failure.1
In AFib, the heart’s electrical system doesn’t work the way it should. When this happens, the atria (the upper chambers of the heart) beat irregularly and the heart may not be able to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.4 In cardiac ablation, your doctor uses energy to damage the malfunctioning heart cells causing an irregular heartbeat.3
Like the WATCHMAN Implant procedure, cardiac ablation is a minimally invasive procedure. During cardiac ablation, your doctor will make a small cut in your upper leg, arm, or neck to insert a small tube. Then, they’ll guide a long, thin tube (called a catheter) with an electrode on the end to your heart. The electrodes will deliver the energy to the small area of heart tissue that’s causing the problem.3
What is the WATCHMAN Implant?
The WATCHMAN Implant is a one-time implant that can reduce the risk of stroke from non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NV-AFib). It’s an alternative to blood thinners for people who need one.
The WATCHMAN Implant procedure is a minimally-invasive procedure where the doctor makes a small incision in the upper leg to insert a narrow tube, or catheter. The WATCHMAN Implant is then guided through the catheter to the left atrial appendage (LAA) of the heart where it forms a barrier to blood clots. See how the WATCHMAN Implant works.
Find out if you’re a candidate for the WATCHMAN Implant. Take the quiz
A combined ablation and WATCHMAN Implant procedure
A combined procedure for AFib is when an ablation and WATCHMAN Implant are done together — treating both AFib symptoms and stroke risk at the same time.
How does the procedure work to get a WATCHMAN Implant after an ablation?
A doctor can do the cardiac ablation to treat the areas in the heart that cause irregular heartbeats, then place the WATCHMAN Implant in the heart to prevent stroke-causing clots from escaping the LAA. The cardiac ablation treats the source of AFib while the WATCHMAN Implant reduces AFib-related stroke risk, eliminating the need for lifelong blood thinners.*5
What are the risks of a combined ablation and WATCHMAN Implant procedure?
A clinical trial called the OPTION trial followed people who got the WATCHMAN Implant at the same time as their ablation. For people who had both treatments in the same procedure, getting an ablation and WATCHMAN Implant was just as safe as getting ablation alone.6 After an ablation, the WATCHMAN Implant was shown to be just as safe as blood thinners and just as effective at reducing stroke risk – plus, people with the WATCHMAN Implant were 50% less likely to have a bleeding event.7
Can I get a WATCHMAN Implant at the same time as my ablation?
Talk to your doctor about whether a combined ablation and WATCHMAN Implant procedure may be right for you.
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*In a clinical trial, 96% of patients were able to discontinue their blood thinner 45 days after getting the WATCHMAN Implant.
References:
- Joglar JA, Chung MK, Armbruster AL, et al. 2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Guideline for the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2024;149(1):e1-e156. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000001193
- How are atrial fibrillation treatment options determined? American Heart Association website. Updated May 6, 2025. Accessed May 23, 2025. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation/treatment-and-prevention-of-atrial-fibrillation/treatment-options-of-atrial-fibrillation-afib-or-af
- Ablation for arrhythmias. American Heart Association website. Updated October 24, 2024. Accessed May 23, 2025. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/arrhythmia/prevention--treatment-of-arrhythmia/ablation-for-arrhythmias
- Why atrial fibrillation matters. American Heart Association website. Updated March 26, 2025. Accessed May 23, 2025. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation/why-atrial-fibrillation-af-or-afib-matters
- Kar S, Doshi SK, Sadhu A, et al. Primary Outcome Evaluation of a Next-Generation Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device: Results From the PINNACLE FLX Trial. Circulation. 2021;143(18):1754-1762.
- Saliba W, Nair D, Swarup V, et al. Comparison of Left Atrial Appendage Closure and Oral Anticoagulation after Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Concomitant and Sequential Cohorts of the OPTION Randomized Controlled Trial. Heart Rhythm. 2025.
- Wazni M, Saliba W, Nair D, et al. Left Atrial Appendage Closure after Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation. N Engl J Med. 2025;392:1277-1287.
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Important Safety Information
The WATCHMAN FLX and WATCHMAN FLX Pro Devices are permanent implants designed to close the left atrial appendage in the heart in an effort to reduce the risk of stroke.
With all medical procedures there are risks associated with the implant procedure and the use of the device. The risks include, but are not limited to, accidental puncture of the heart causing fluid to collect around the heart possibly leading towards the need for an additional procedure, allergic reaction, anesthesia risks, altered mental status or confusion after procedure, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), bleeding or throat pain from the TEE (Trans Esophageal Echo) probe, chest pain/discomfort, congestive heart failure, renal failure, excessive bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, groin puncture bleed, bruising at the catheter insertion site, groin pain, anemia (reduced red blood cells requiring transfusion), hypotension, infection/pneumonia (example: in or around your heart or lungs), misplacement of the device, improper seal of the appendage or movement of device from appendage wall, clot formation on the device, blood clot or air bubbles in the lungs or other organs, stroke, transient ischemic attack (temporary stroke-like symptoms), cranial bleed (bleeding in or around your brain), thrombosis (blockage of a blood vessel or vein by a clot) and in rare cases death can occur.
Be sure to talk with your doctor so that you thoroughly understand all of the risks and benefits associated with the implantation of the device. SH-2109508-AA