CHICO, Calif. — Enloe Health has introduced a new heart procedure, the Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) surgery, or the “Watchman Procedure,” for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).
This condition, characterized by an irregular heartbeat, affects the heart’s upper chambers, where heartbeats can range from 300 to 350 beats per minute. In contrast, the lower chamber beats at a slower rate of 100 to 150 beats per minute.
When the upper chamber beats rapidly, blood circulation is impaired, leading to potential blood clot formation in the left atrial appendage, a pouch in the heart’s upper left chamber. These clots can travel to the brain, causing strokes. According to Enloe Health Doctor Shailesh Nandish, roughly one in three AFib patients experience a stroke in their lifetime.
The non-invasive LAAC procedure reduces the risk of stroke and eliminates the need for traditional blood thinners, which some patients cannot take due to various health challenges. Since its launch in February 2025, Enloe Health has successfully completed the LAAC procedure on eight patients, underscoring its commitment to providing essential local care services.
“[The procedure is designed to] go and take this device, the Watchman Device, and go put this at the opening of the pouch, or the Left Atrial Appendage, and seal it. Over 45 days to a month or two months or so, the body covers it up with it’s own tissue. About 96 out of 100 who had this procedure generally were able to come off of a blood thinner in 45 days based on the studies that have been done so far,” Dr. Nandish explained.
Dr. Nandish says the procedure takes less than an hour, and patients are typically discharged from the hospital the following day. He adds that the watchman device is inserted through a small hole in the groin, sealing off the pouch where blood clots form. Having access to these services locally prevents patients in need of critical care from needing to travel our of the area for vital medical services.
“We want to offer the same quality and level of care with a good outcome as you can get in Sacramento or the Bay Area at UCSF, anywhere. The goal is very simple: best quality of care, good outcomes, and provide it here locally at Enloe in Chico. But we’re focusing on expanding our programs, focusing on improving quality of care,” said Dr. Nandish.
Enloe Health is also expanding its cardiac care offerings, including treatments for heart attacks, cardiogenic shock, and a structural heart program, among others.
“There’s a significant need to take care of cardiology patients in this community, and Enloe is coming to increase access within the next two to three years,” Dr. Nandish concluded.
For more on Enloe’s heart offerings, click here.
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