Periprocedural stroke and bleeding complications in patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation with different anticoagulation management: results from the Role of Coumadin in Preventing Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Patients Undergoing Catheter Ablation (COMPARE) randomized trial

Circulation. 2014 Jun 24;129(25):2638-44. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.006426. Epub 2014 Apr 17.

Abstract

Background: Periprocedural thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events are worrisome complications of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). The periprocedural anticoagulation management could play a role in the incidence of these complications. Although ablation procedures performed without warfarin discontinuation seem to be associated with lower thromboembolic risk, no randomized study exists.

Methods and results: This was a prospective, open-label, randomized, parallel-group, multicenter study assessing the role of continuous warfarin therapy in preventing periprocedural thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events after radiofrequency catheter ablation. Patients with CHADS2 score ≥1 were included. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the off-warfarin or on-warfarin arm. The incidence of thromboembolic events in the 48 hours after ablation was the primary end point of the study. The study enrolled 1584 patients: 790 assigned to discontinue warfarin (group 1) and 794 assigned to continuous warfarin (group 2). No statistical difference in baseline characteristics was observed. There were 39 thromboembolic events (3.7% strokes [n=29] and 1.3% transient ischemic attacks [n=10]) in group 1: two events (0.87%) in patients with paroxysmal AF, 4 (2.3%) in patients with persistent AF, and 33 (8.5%) in patients with long-standing persistent AF. Only 2 strokes (0.25%) in patients with long-standing persistent AF were observed in group 2 (P<0.001). Warfarin discontinuation emerged as a strong predictor of periprocedural thromboembolism (odds ratio, 13; 95% confidence interval, 3.1-55.6; P<0.001).

Conclusion: This is the first randomized study showing that performing catheter ablation of AF without warfarin discontinuation reduces the occurrence of periprocedural stroke and minor bleeding complications compared with bridging with low-molecular-weight heparin.

Clinical trial registration url: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01006876.

Keywords: atrial fibrillation; catheter ablation; catheter ablation, radiofrequency; stroke; transient ischemic attack; warfarin.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anticoagulants / adverse effects
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use*
  • Atrial Fibrillation / surgery*
  • Catheter Ablation / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Perioperative Period
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke / epidemiology*
  • Thromboembolism / epidemiology
  • Thromboembolism / prevention & control*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Warfarin / adverse effects
  • Warfarin / therapeutic use*
  • Withholding Treatment

Substances

  • Anticoagulants
  • Warfarin

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01006876