Abstract
Background: The best periprocedural anticoagulation strategy at the time of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is not known. Most centers stop administering warfarin (Coumadin) and use bridging with heparin or enoxaparin. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PVI under therapeutic international normalized ratio (INR). Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2008, PVI was performed in 3,052 patients with therapeutic INR (≥1.8) at the time of ablation. All patients were evaluated for ischemic strokes and bleeding complications. Results: Mean INR was 2.53 ± 0.62. Only 3 (0.098%) patients had ischemic strokes. One patient had a hemorrhagic stroke on the third day postablation but recovered completely by 1-week follow-up. Bleeding complications occurred in 34 (1.11%) patients; most were minor (0.79%). Major hemorrhagic complications occurred in 10 (0.33%) patients (tamponade in 5, hematomas requiring intervention in 2, transfusion necessary in 3). Conclusion: In a large patient population, continuation of Coumadin at a therapeutic INR at the time of PVI without use of heparin or enoxaparin for bridging is a safe and efficacious periprocedural anticoagulation strategy. It is an acceptable and potentially better alternative to strategies that use bridging with heparin or enoxaparin.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1425-1429 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Heart Rhythm |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2009 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Ablation
- Atrial fibrillation
- Warfarin (Coumadin)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
- Physiology (medical)