Atrial fibrillation patients in the Wausau-Weston area who are at risk of stroke can now undergo a procedure that’s new to Marshfield Medical Center-Weston. Cases involving Abbott’s Amplatzer Amulet Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) Occluder began on May 24, 2022. It is a minimally-invasive therapy that uses technology to seal the LAA.

The LAA is a small pocket connected to the upper left chamber of the heart that, in people with atrial fibrillation (AFib), can allow blood to pool. This increases the likelihood of a clot forming and traveling to the brain and cause a stroke. For AFib patients who are unable to take blood-thinning medication long-term, physicians may opt to close the LAA through procedures like the Amulet or Watchman.

“We are excited about this technology and its uniqueness in allowing patients to stop their blood thinner immediately,” said Dr. Elvis Peter, Marshfield Clinic Health System cardiologist.

Dr. Peter, along with Drs. Sanjay Kumar and Dan Gavrila are offering the procedure to patients at Marshfield Medical Center-Weston. It is the first hospital in the Marshfield Clinic Health System to offer the Amulet procedure, and just the second in the state of Wisconsin.

“We feel so grateful to be able to offer this most advanced, superior alternative to blood thinners to selected patients, right here in the communities where they live,” Drs. Gavrila and Kumar agreed.