Does OAC discontinuation increase the risk of cardioembolism in patients after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation?
Continuing OAC for at least 3 months in all patients and indefinitely in high-risk patients after AF ablation is the safest strategy to prevent cardioembolism.
The overall risk of stroke in postablation patients is low; however, OAC discontinuation after ablation is common and is associated with increased risk of cardioembolism for all patients within the first 3 months and for high-risk patients in the long term. Continuing OAC for at least 3 months in all patients and indefinitely in high-risk patients appears to be the safest strategy.
Noseworthy et al. (Thu,) studied this question.