Periprocedural Stroke and Management of Major Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

• DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.109.921320
• Publication Date: 2010-06-02T01:41:40Z
• Authors: Luigi Di Biase; J. David Burkhardt; Prasant Mohanty; Javier Sanchez; Rodney Horton; G. Joseph Galling...; Dhanunjay Lakkireddy; Atul Verma; Yaariv Khaykin; Richard Hongo; Steven Hao; Salwa Beheiry; Gemma Pelargonio; Antonio Dello Russo; Michela Casella; Pietro Santarelli; Pasquale Santangeli; Paul Wang; Amin Al-Ahmad; Dimpi Patel; Sakis Themistoclakis; Aldo Bonso; Antonio Rossillo; Andrea Corrado; Antonio Raviele; Jennifer E. Cummings; Robert A. Schweikert; William R. Lewis; Andrea Natale
• Keywords: Stroke

Background— Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is associated with the potential risk periprocedural stroke, which can range between 1% and 5%. We developed a prospective database to evaluate prevalence stroke over time assess whether anticoagulation strategy use open irrigation catheter have resulted in reduction this complication. Methods Results— collected data from 9 centers performing same procedure protocol. divided patients into 3 groups: an 8-mm off warfarin (group 1), irrigated 2), on 3). Outcome stroke/transient ischemic attack bleeding complications during early after procedures were collected. Of 6454 consecutive study, 2488 group 1, 1348 2, 2618 3. Periprocedural occurred 27 (1.1%) 1 12 (0.9%) 2. Despite higher nonparoxysmal more CHADS2 (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age >75 years, diabetes mellitus, prior or transient attack) score >2, no was reported Complications among groups 3, including major (10 [0.4%], 11 [0.8%], 10 respectively; P >0.05) pericardial effusion (11 [0.5%]; >0.05), equally distributed. Conclusion— The combination therapeutic may reduce without increasing other complications.