Published online Mar 26, 2025. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v17.i3.104000
Revised: January 27, 2025
Accepted: February 21, 2025
Published online: March 26, 2025
Processing time: 105 Days and 0.7 Hours
Up to one-third of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have an indication for oral anticoagulation (OAC), primarily due to underlying atrial fibrillation. The optimal approach concerning periprocedural continuation vs interruption of OAC in patients undergoing TAVR remains uncertain, which our meta-analysis aims to address.
To explore safety and efficacy outcomes for patients undergoing TAVR, comparing periprocedural continuation vs interruption of OAC therapy.
A literature search was conducted across major databases to retrieve eligible studies that assessed the safety and effectiveness of TAVR with periprocedural continuous vs interrupted OAC. Data were pooled using a random-effects model with risk ratio (RR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) as effect measures. All statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager with statistical significance set at P < 0.05.
Four studies were included, encompassing a total of 1813 patients with a mean age of 80.6 years and 49.8% males. A total of 733 patients underwent OAC interruption and 1080 continued. Stroke incidence was significantly lower in the OAC continuation group (RR = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.40-0.94; P = 0.03). No significant differences in major vascular complications were found between the two groups (RR = 0.95, 95%CI: 0.77-1.16; P = 0.60) and major bleeding (RR = 0.90, 95%CI: 0.72-1.12; P = 0.33). All-cause mortality was non-significant between the two groups (RR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.57-1.20; P = 0.32).
Continuation of OAC significantly reduced stroke risk, whereas it showed trends toward lower bleeding and mortality that were not statistically significant. Further large-scale studies are crucial to determine clinical significance.
Core Tip: Periprocedural continuation of oral anticoagulation (OAC) in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) significantly reduces stroke risk (risk ratio = 0.62, P = 0.03) without increasing the incidence of major bleeding or vascular complications. Although no statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality was observed, the results suggest a favorable safety and efficacy profile for OAC continuation. These findings underscore the need for further large-scale, randomized trials to establish definitive guidelines for periprocedural anticoagulation management in patients undergoing TAVR.