East Lansing, Mich.-based Sparrow Health System cardiologists recently performed the 400th successful implant of the Watchman, a device implanted in the upper chamber of the heart to decrease risk of stroke in some patients, the system said Jan. 10.
Sparrow was the first hospital in Lansing to offer this device, which is directed at atrial fibrillation patients as an alternative to blood thinners. Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of heart arrhythmia in the U.S. and increases the risk of strokes.