Manatee Memorial Hospital (MMH) has reached another milestone in structural heart procedures to treat atrial fibrillation and reduce dependency on blood thinners. According to Boston Scientific Corporation, Manatee Memorial is one of the top ten hospitals in the country for total WATCHMAN implants since 2015, out of more than 650 major medical centers in the United States. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, currently affecting up to seven million Americans.1  People with AF may be at greater risk for stroke than those with normal heart rhythms. The WATCHMAN implant closes off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA) to keep harmful blood clots that can form in the LAA from entering the blood stream and potentially causing a stroke. By closing off the LAA, the risk of stroke may be reduced and, over time, patients may be able to stop taking blood thinners.