Merit Health Wesley Expands Cardiovascular Procedures
3/21/2022
Hattiesburg, MS - Merit Health Wesley recently launched a new cardiovascular procedure, successfully implanting their first left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) device. The procedure is a treatment option that will now be available to patients who are diagnosed with non-valvular atrial fibrillation as an alternative to the lifelong use of blood thinners.
“Being able to offer these types of alternative treatments to our patients is important,” said Interventional Cardiologist Alan Covin, M.D. “As technology enhances, we want to ensure our heart program evolves to continually provide the best possible care to the patients of the Pinebelt. This technology has recently been improved to function even more safely and effectively, helping to ensure the best long-term outcomes."
An estimated seven million Americans are said to be affected by atrial fibrillation (AF), a condition where the upper chambers of the heart (atrium) beat too fast and with irregular rhythm. People with AF have five times greater risk of having a stroke than those with normal heart rhythms, making it the most common complication of the disease. The LAAC device decreases the risk of non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients forming the harmful blood clots that would potentially cause patients to experience a stroke. By closing off the left atrial appendage within the heart, the risk of stroke is reduced and blood thinners are often no longer necessary.
The team at Merit Health Wesley launched the program last Friday. These procedures were led by Cardiac Electrophysiologist Ronald Jones, M.D., with the assistance of Interventional Cardiologist F. Alan Covin, M.D. The heart team at Merit Health Wesley also includes Interventional Cardiologists Karl Duncan, M.D., and Kurt Duncan, M.D., as well as Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon Gregory Groglio, M.D.
Merit Health Wesley is accredited in care for atrial fibrillation by the American College of Cardiology. To learn more about atrial fibrillation or request an appointment with a cardiologist, visit MeritHealthWesley.com/cardiac-care.
To sign up for Merit Health Wesley’s monthly e-newsletter, Live Healthy, visit bit.ly/mhwnews.
Left to right - Karl Duncan, M.D.; Kurt Duncan, M.D.; Rick Kolaczek, COO; F. Alan Covin, M.D; Ronald Jones, M.D
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