Stopping oral anticoagulants guided by ECG monitoring post-AF ablation yielded a low overall stroke or TIA rate of 0.2% per patient-year, with major bleeding significantly lower off OAC (P<0.016).
Cohort (n=1,990)
Does stopping oral anticoagulants guided by ECG monitoring and pulse assessment increase the risk of stroke or TIA in patients after atrial fibrillation ablation?
Discontinuing oral anticoagulation guided by ECG monitoring and pulse assessment after AF ablation is associated with a low risk of stroke and significantly lower major bleeding, even in patients with CHADS2 ≥2.
INTRODUCTION: We sought to gain insight into stroke risk after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: We followed 1,990 patients for >1 year (49 ± 29 months) who underwent AF ablation. Prior to stopping oral anticoagulants (OAC), we performed 3-week transtelephonic ECG monitoring (TTM) and taught patients heart rate and pulse assessment. Documented AF or inability to do monitoring or assess pulse precluded stopping OAC in CHADS2 ≥1 patients. OAC was stopped in 546/840 (65%) with CHADS2 = 0; 384/796 (48%) with CHADS2 = 1 and 101/354 (40%) with CHADS2 ≥ 2. Sixteen strokes or TIAs occurred (0.2%/patient-year); 5 in CHADS2 = 0 patients (all off OAC); 5 in CHADS2 = 1 (1 off and 4 on OAC); and 6 in CHADS2 ≥2 (2 off and 4 on OAC). Twelve of 16 patients (75%) with stroke or TIA had documented AF. In patients "off " OAC, stroke rate/year stratified by the CHADS2 score was similar (CHADS2 = 0: 0.28%; CHADS2 = 1: 0.07%; CHADS2 ≥2: 0.50%; P = NS). There was no difference in stroke risk "on" versus "off " OAC in CHADS2 = 1 (0.48% vs. 0.07%) or CHADS2 ≥2 (0.39% vs. 0.50%). Risk of major bleeding per patient year "on" OAC was > "off " OAC (13/1,138 (1.14%) versus 1/832 (0.1%); P<0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Post-AF ablation with OAC guided by TTM and pulse assessment: (1) Overall stroke or TIA rate risk is low and risk is due to recurrent AF and (2) OAC can be stopped in 40% of CHADS2 ≥2 patients with low stroke and hemorrhagic risk.
Riley et al. (Mon,) conducted a cohort in Atrial fibrillation post-ablation (n=1,990). Oral anticoagulant discontinuation guided by ECG monitoring and pulse assessment vs. Continued oral anticoagulation was evaluated on Stroke or transient ischemic attack. Stopping oral anticoagulants guided by ECG monitoring post-AF ablation yielded a low overall stroke or TIA rate of 0.2% per patient-year, with major bleeding significantly lower off OAC (P<0.016).