The Watchman Saga -- Closure at Last?

The article presents the Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Closure System designed as the most intensely studied device for thromboembolic prophylaxis in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Topics discussed include a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee review of findings from manufacturing, bench and clinical testing of the device and the importance of timely data on real-world experience to complement clinical-trial evidence to understand a technology like Watchman.