DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — DuPage Medical Group (DMG) heart doctors continue to demonstrate how great skill and innovation can come together to improve the health of patients with heart disease. DMG heart doctors are using a one-time, minimally invasive procedure to place a small device into the heart to help reduce stroke risk for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).
AFib, an irregular heartbeat that can cause blood clots and increase the risk of stroke, is commonly treated using blood thinner medications. While blood thinners can help decrease blood clots, they can also cause dangerous side effects, leading many patients to seek an alternative treatment.
The device, called the WATCHMAN™, is smaller than a quarter and works by closing off a small area in one of the heart chambers to help prevent blood clots from forming and traveling to other parts of the body — reducing the risk of stroke.
“This innovative device allows us to offer a safe and effective treatment option for patients who need an alternative to blood thinners,” said Dr. Eugene Greenstein, DMG electrophysiologist (a cardiologist focused on heart rhythm problems).
DMG began performing the life-saving procedure in 2018 and recently celebrated an important milestone: the successful completion of 100 WATCHMAN device procedures. A procedure is considered a success if the device is placed into the patient’s heart with no complications and the patient does not need to take blood thinners afterwards.
“The success of these procedures is attributed to the reputable collaboration and dedication among our highly-skilled heart doctors,” said Dr. Evans Pappas, DMG cardiologist and cardiology department chair. “We are humbled to have reached this important milestone and look forward to continuing to provide industry-leading cardiovascular care for our patients and communities.”
“We are proud to offer our patients this live-saving treatment option and applaud our cardiology team for performing its 100th successful WATCHMAN procedure,” said Dr. Paul Merrick, the chairman of the DMG physician organization. “Innovative treatment options and high-quality care are central components engrained in our organization’s mission.”
For more information about DMG’s cardiologists, visit https://www.dulyhealthandcare.com/services/cardiology.
About DuPage Medical Group
DuPage Medical Group (DMG) is the largest independent, multi-specialty physician group in Illinois with more than 750 primary care and specialty care physicians in over 100 suburban Chicago locations. For more than 20 years, DMG has focused on making healthcare better for its patients and communities by offering high quality, compassionate healthcare. As a physician-led organization, DMG’s physicians work together – utilizing leading-edge technology and innovative treatment options – to ensure that each patient receives accessible and efficient healthcare. For more information, visit www.dulyhealthandcare.com.