Reducing Risk of Stroke with the WATCHMAN™ Implant

By Rosslind Rice

Southern Illinois patients at risk for stroke have a safer future thanks to a milestone achievement at SIH Prairie Heart Institute.

On Aug. 13, 2025, our cardiovascular team successfully performed its 200th WATCHMAN™ procedure — the only program of its kind in Southern Illinois.

The WATCHMAN™ is a minimally invasive device that is about the size of a quarter. The device is implanted into the left atrial appendage of the heart in people with non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation in order to keep blood clots from escaping and causing a stroke. Since the first procedure in 2017, SIH Prairie Heart Institute — a collaboration between SIH, SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale and Prairie Cardiovascular — has steadily expanded access to this sophisticated level of care.

 “Every case represents a patient who can live with greater peace of mind, often with fewer blood thinners and a lower risk of complications,” said Raed Al-Dallow, MD, Prairie Cardiovascular interventional cardiologist. “Reaching 200 implants is not just a number — it’s a reflection of lives changed.”

 The procedure is performed in the cardiac catheterization lab at SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale. Teams of physicians, nurses, anesthetists and technologists bring the expertise and precision required for each implant. To date, 55 WATCHMAN™ devices have been implanted in 2025 alone — a sign of growing access, trust and success.