Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies indicate that uninterrupted anticoagulation is superior to interrupted anticoagulation in the periprocedural period during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation and has better thromboembolic and hemorrhagic outcomes. Conversely, the few studies addressing the safety and efficacy of interrupted direct oral anticoagulant regimens during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation are limited by small samples, short follow-up periods, rare events, and variable outcomes. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare interrupted and uninterrupted direct oral anticoagulation during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.METHODS: A systematic search into PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane databases were performed and five studies were selected that directly that directly compared interrupted versus uninterrupted anticoagulation before ablation and reported procedural outcomes and embolic and bleeding events. The primary outcome of the study was major adverse cerebrocardiovascular events which was a composite of stroke/ transient ischemic attacks and major bleedings, total bleeding which was a composite of major and minor bleedings and silent cerebral events.RESULTS The meta-analysis included 840 patients with uninterrupted anticoagulation and 938 patients with interrupted anticoagulation. Median follow-up was 30 days. Baseline parameters were similar between groups. Activated clotting time before first heparin bolus was significantly longer with uninterrupted anticoagulation (P=.006), whereas mean activated clotting time was similar between the 2 groups (P=.19). Total heparin dose needed was significantly higher with interrupted anticoagulation (mean, ‒1.61; 95% CI, ‒2.67 to ‒0.55; P=.003). Mean procedure time did not vary between groups (P=.81). Overall complication rates were low, with similar major adverse cerebrocardiovascular event (P=.40) and total bleeding (P=.55) rates between groups. Silent cerebral events were significantly more frequent with interrupted anticoagulation (log odds ratio, ‒0.90; 95% CI, ‒1.59 to ‒0.22; P<.01; I2, 33%). Rates of major bleeding, minor bleeding, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, and puncture complications were similar between groups.CONCLUSIONS Uninterrupted anticoagulation during atrial fibrillation ablation has similar bleeding event rates, procedural times, and mean activated clotting times as interrupted anticoagulation, with fewer silent cerebral events.
THE IMPACT OF ORAL DIRECT THROMBIN INHIBITORS ON ACTIVATED CLOTTING TIME DURING CATHETER ABLATION IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
