Mansfield Hospital’s Structural Heart Team Reaches New Milestone
Key Takeaways:
- OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital’s Structural Heart Team has completed its 100th Amulet™ left atrial appendage occlusion procedure.
- The minimally invasive procedure helps reduce stroke risk for patients with AFib who cannot safely take blood-thinning medications.
- Mansfield Hospital has performed more than 650 left atrial appendage closure procedures using both Amulet™ and Watchman™ devices.
- Advanced cardiac imaging helps the team select the best device for each patient’s anatomy and guide placement during the procedure.
- The program gives patients across north central Ohio access to advanced cardiovascular care closer to home.
OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital’s Structural Heart Program has reached another significant milestone, successfully completing its 100th Amulet™ left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedure. The achievement highlights the program’s continued growth in providing advanced stroke prevention options for patients with atrial fibrillation (AFib).
The Amulet device is implanted in patients who are at high risk for stroke but cannot safely take blood-thinning medications due to bleeding risks or other complications. The minimally invasive procedure involves placing a device in the heart to seal off the left atrial appendage, where blood clots can form in patients with AFib. By preventing clots from entering the bloodstream, the device helps reduce the risk of stroke.
Mansfield Hospital has performed more than 650 left atrial appendage closure procedures overall, including both Watchman™ and Amulet™ devices. While Watchman was the first device of its kind available, the Structural Heart Team has continued expanding its expertise with the Amulet device, reaching 100 procedures despite the need for careful patient selection based on individual anatomy.
“The left atrial appendage is unique in every patient, much like a fingerprint,” said Atish Mathur, MD, interventional cardiologist at OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital. “Having access to multiple device options allows us to select the treatment that best fits each patient’s anatomy and gives us the greatest opportunity for a successful outcome. Advanced imaging allows our team to understand that anatomy before we begin and helps guide us during the procedure.”
According to Dr. Mathur, the structural heart team heavily relies on cardiovascular imaging to better understand a patient’s anatomy. Cardiovascular imaging physicians provide sophisticated cardiac imaging, including cardiac CT and echocardiographic imaging, that helps the heart team understand a patient's anatomy before treatment. This information can help physicians plan the procedure and select an appropriate treatment strategy for the patient. Imaging expertise continues into the procedure itself. Working alongside the interventional cardiology team, physicians use specialized cardiac imaging to help guide treatment in real time, assess device positioning, and evaluate the result before the procedure is completed.
Mansfield Hospital’s Structural Heart Team serves patients not only from Richland County, but also from surrounding communities throughout north central Ohio. Through outreach and education efforts, the program has helped increase awareness among providers and patients about advanced structural heart procedures available close to home.
“What makes our program unique is that we offer both Watchman™ and Amulet™ devices and have extensive experience with each,” said Dr. Mathur. “Through detailed imaging and planning, we can often determine which device will be the best fit before the procedure, helping patients avoid unnecessary delays and giving them confidence that they are receiving the right treatment for their condition.”
The milestone reinforces Mansfield Hospital’s commitment to providing advanced cardiovascular care locally, allowing patients to receive specialized treatment closer to home rather than traveling to larger metropolitan areas.
Patients interested in learning whether they may be candidates for a left atrial appendage occlusion procedure should speak with their primary care provider or cardiologist. Referrals can be made directly to Mansfield Hospital’s Structural Heart Program.
