Meridian’s healthcare industry has added another tool to help patients at high risk for stroke after Cardiovascular Institute of the South interventional cardiologists Dr. L. Shea Hailey and Dr. Thomas Plavac performed a new procedure to reduce the risk of stroke caused by atrial fibrillation on May 8 at Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian.

The procedure involved implanting the WATCHMAN FLX Left Atrial Appendage Closure device into the left atrial appendage of the heart, which is where 90% of stroke-causing blood clots are formed. The device, about the size of a quarter, permanently closes off this part of the heart to keep blood clots from escaping.

This non-invasive procedure takes about an hour in a cardiac catheterization lab or hybrid operating room, and the post-procedure hospital stay is one day, with the possibility of being discharged home on the same day.

Approximately 2 to 3 million people in the U.S. need to take blood thinners to reduce their risk of stroke. However, patients on blood thinners can’t work certain jobs, such as in construction or plant environments. These patients are also often required to make frequent visits to a clinic for blood tests to monitor and manage their blood thinner medication. This new treatment offers a safe alternative that eliminates the long-term risks and management of blood thinners.

“We are excited to offer this new procedure that allows our patients to receive advanced care without having to travel outside the Meridian area,” said Dr. Keith Everett, chief medical officer at Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center. “The long-standing teamwork between Baptist Anderson and CIS, in combination with our evidence-based and protocol-driven approach, raises the bar for local cardiac care.”

With more than 1,150 team members, Cardiovascular Institute of the South provides cardiovascular care at 21 locations across Louisiana and Mississippi, including Meridian, with 11 telemedicine programs.

Baptist Anderson Regional Medical Center, founded by Dr. William Jefferson Anderson in 1928, merged with Baptist Memorial Health Care, one of the largest health care systems in the United States, in January 2024.