Is discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy safe after successful percutaneous left atrial radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation?
Discontinuation of anticoagulation appears safe after successful LARFA in patients without stroke risk factors or with risk factors other than age >65 and prior stroke, though a 1.1% risk of thromboembolic events exists primarily within the first 2 weeks.
The risk of a TE after LARFA is 1.1%, with most events occurring within 2 weeks after the procedure. Discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy appears to be safe after successful LARFA, both in patients without risk factors for stroke and in patients with risk factors other than age > 65 years and history of stroke. Sufficient safety data are as yet unavailable to support discontinuation of anticoagulation in patients older than 65 years or with a history of stroke.
Oral et al. (Tue,) studied this question.