When is it appropriate to stop non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants before catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation? A multicentre prospective randomized study

Hee Tae Yu, Jaemin Shim, Junbeom Park, Tae Hoon Kim, Jae Sun Uhm, Jong Youn Kim, Boyoung Joung, Moon Hyoung Lee, Young Hoon Kim, Hui Nam Pak

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33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims Although a recent expert consensus statement has recommended periprocedural uninterrupted (UI) non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) as a Class I indication, there have been no clear randomized trials. We investigated the safety and efficacy of UI, procedure day single-dose skipped (SDS), and 24-hour skipped (24S) NOACs in patients undergoing AF ablation. Methods and results In this prospective, open-label, randomized multicentre trial, 326 patients (75% male, 58 ± 11 years old) scheduled for AF catheter ablation were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to UI, SDS, and 24S at three tertiary hospitals. Bridging with low molecular weight heparin was carried out in the patients with persistent AF who were assigned to the 24S group. Dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban were assigned in order after randomization. The primary endpoint was the incidence of bleeding events within 1 month after ablation. The secondary endpoints included thrombo-embolic and other procedure-related complications. The intra-procedural heparin requirement was higher in the 24S group than others (P < 0.001), and the mean activated clotting time was comparable among the groups (P = 0.139). The incidence of major bleeding up to 1 month after ablation and a post-procedural reduction in the haemoglobin levels did not significantly differ among the treatment groups and different NOACs (P > 0.05). There were no fatal events or thrombo-embolic complications in all the three groups. Conclusion In patients undergoing AF ablation, UI NOACs and SDS or double dose skipped NOACs had a comparable efficacy and safety, regardless of the type of NOAC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1531-1537
Number of pages7
JournalEuropean Heart Journal
Volume40
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2018.

Keywords

  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Bleeding
  • Catheter ablation
  • Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant

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