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Stanford Health Care

Amulet

Our Approach

If you have atrial fibrillation (AFib), left atrial appendage closure may reduce your risk of stroke. This procedure safely seals off a small part of your heart to help prevent blood clots. Left atrial appendage closure is an alternative to blood thinners for eligible patients.

At Stanford Health Care, we work together to find the best way to reduce your risk of stroke. We offer left atrial appendage closure using the Watchman FLX™ and the Amplatzer™ Amulet™. These devices are FDA-approved to lower the risk of AFib-related strokes.

Stanford Health Care is one of the few centers in the country that performs left atrial appendage closure without general anesthesia and transesophageal echocardiogram. Our approach is less invasive, and you go home the same day.

WHAT WE OFFER YOU FOR LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE CLOSURE

  • Extensive experience and promising results with the Watchman FLX and Amplatzer Amulet devices, offering both devices commercially before any other program in Northern California after FDA approval.
  • Team approach to reducing AFib-related stroke risk, bringing together top electrophysiologists, interventional cardiologists, surgeons, and imaging specialists.
  • Tailored care for your needs, with our team taking the time to explain your options and the potential benefits and risks of each option.
  • Active clinical research program to develop future left atrial appendage closure techniques and devices.
Make An Appointment

To schedule an appointment, please call: 650-723-6459

What Is Left Atrial Appendage Closure?

Amplatzer Amulet Left Atrial Appendage Occluder

The Amplatzer Amulet is a metal mesh implant that has dual-seal technology to immediately and completely seal off your left atrial appendage.

The Amplatzer Amulet comes in a wide range of sizes, and our team chooses the one that fits you best. Your surgeon can also reposition the device to ensure it’s in the optimal place.

In clinical trials, more than 98% of participants had successful implantation of their Amplatzer Amulet. Many people can also stop taking blood thinners right after the procedure. During this procedure, our team:

  • Gives you local anesthesia and sedation, so you will be comfortable
  • Makes an incision in your femoral vein in your upper leg
  • Inserts a catheter in your femoral vein and guides it up to your left atrial appendage
  • Moves the Amplatzer Amulet through the catheter and positions it over the opening of your left atrial appendage
  • Uses advanced imaging to make sure the device forms a complete seal on the opening of your left atrial appendage
  • Removes the catheter and closes the incision in your leg

Your Amplatzer Amulet device begins working immediately after your procedure. Ask your doctor when it’s safe for you to stop taking blood thinners.

INTERESTED IN AN ONLINE SECOND OPINION?

The Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion program offers you easy access to our world-class doctors. It’s all done remotely and you don’t have to visit our hospital or one of our clinics for this service. You don’t even need to leave home!

Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.

Our Clinics

Structural Heart Program

Our Structural Heart Program offers expertise in leading-edge, minimally invasive procedures, and open-heart surgery to treat structural heart disease. Together, our interventional cardiologists, heart surgeons, heart failure specialists, and imaging experts provide the most advanced and personalized care.

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RELATED CLINICS

300 Pasteur Drive
 3rd Floor, Clinic A31
 Stanford, CA 94305
Phone: 650-725-2621
300 Pasteur Drive
 2nd Floor
 Stanford, CA 94305
Phone: 650-723-7111