New long-term registry data provide more support for Boston Scientific Corp.’s Watchman left-atrial appendage closure device as an alternative to long-term anticoagulation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who are at increased risk of stroke.
The US Food and Drug Administration approved Watchman in 2015 based on results from the PROTECT AF and PREVAIL trials, which showed Watchman was more effective at reducing the risk of stroke in these patients than warfarin therapy. A recent analysis of both trials showed Watchman is more cost-effective than warfarin or newer anticoagulant drugs over five years