As long as Carolyn Tanner is on this earth, she wants to be on top of her game. Thanks to a small device – about the size of a quarter – implanted in her heart by an expert WellSpan cardiologist, the 72-year-old sister, gardener, avid traveler, and busy church volunteer is living the life she loves.

Carolyn recently received the device, called a Watchman, which treats a condition called atrial fibrillation, or AFib, and allows patients to avoid taking blood-thinning medications.

AFib is an irregular heartbeat where the top and bottom of the heart don’t beat in rhythm. It can lead to the formation of blood clots in the heart, which could travel to the brain and cause a stroke. In fact, someone with AFib is five times more likely to have a stroke, according to the American Heart Association.

To treat her AFib, Carolyn initially received a pacemaker implant. As a precaution, Carolyn was prescribed blood thinners, a common medication for people with AFib. One of the side effects of blood thinners is excessive bleeding, which can be mild or life-threatening, depending on the severity and the location of the bleed. 

After two fairly serious bloody nose attacks, Carolyn was concerned about her reaction to the blood thinners. She sought out WellSpan cardiac interventional physician Dr. Brian Schuler for another treatment option. He recommended the Watchman device for her.

“I was really concerned that I would have another bleeding incident, and what if it happened in my abdomen, or somewhere else inside my body?” says Carolyn, who is a widow. “I need to live independently and be able to take care of myself.” 

“The Watchman device is a good alternative to blood thinners. This would reduce Carolyn’s risk for excessive bleeding and stroke,” says Dr. Schuler.

WellSpan’s cardiology teams are experts in implanting the small parachute-shaped device that prevents blood clots in a particular part of the heart where they commonly form. In fact, Carolyn was the 1,000^th patient who received the device at WellSpan York Hospital.

The Watchman device

Carolyn had the Watchman device implanted in a minimally invasive procedure.

“The procedure went very smoothly. I spent the night in the hospital, and the very next day, my sister and I took a road trip. I had no pain or unexpected issues at all. I just had two small incisions in my groin,” she says. 

Since then, her heart has healed around the device, and she has stopped taking blood thinners. She takes one low-dose aspirin per day.

“The device has been a blessing. I feel 100% better,” says Carolyn. “I am so grateful to Dr. Schuler and his team for the excellent care I received. My energy is back. I’m enjoying life and helping others. I’m volunteering at church. Life is good and I want to enjoy doing the things I love for as long as I can.” 

Visit www.wellspan.org/heart for more information on our cardiac services.