Patient was a 78-year-old woman with a prior history of Ebstein’s anomaly, tricuspid valve replacement, diabetes mellitus, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, complete atrioventricular conduction block and prior dual-chamber pacemaker implantation. In addition, she had chronic blood loss anemia resulting from radiation induced colitis and subsequent bleeding in the colon.

She was placed on apixaban to reduce her risk of cardioembolic stroke resulting from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Additionally, she received a blood transfusion for her anemia. Due to her condition and medical history, the Temple Heart & Vascular Institute deemed her a good candidate for the WATCHMAN device to allow for discontinuation of blood thinners in the future.