Why the study?
Data on human Watchman device endothelialization are lacking, with anticoagulation guidelines currently based on expectations from animal studies.
Demonstrates that complete endothelialization of the Watchman device may not occur even >3 years post-implantation, contrary to expectations from animal models.
May support extended antithrombotic consideration after Watchman; hypothesis-generating and challenges animal model timelines.
We report an unusual case of incomplete endothelialization of the Watchman device >3 years after its implantation. Animal data suggest that device endothelialization occurs ∼45 days post-implantation; however, data on humans are lacking. Guidelines on anticoagulation are based on expectation from animal studies. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)
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Batnyam et al. (2020) studied this question.
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