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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 28, 2012
[Oral anticoagulation doesn't increase hemorrhagic risk in patients undergoing a cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator
W Amara1, I Ben Youssef, A Bonny
1Unité de rythmologie, GHI Le Raincy-Montfermeil, 10, rue du Général-Leclerc, 93370 Montfermeil, France. walamara@yahoo.fr
Objectives:
This study was designed to assess the hypothesis that the implantation or the replacement of a cardiac stimulator or defibrillator in patients receiving oral anticoagulants with an INR≥2 doesn't increase the hemorrhagic risk in comparison with patients for whom the treatment has been interrupted temporarily (INR<2) or with patients not receiving anticoagulants (control group).
Patients And Results:
We performed a retrospective chart review of bleeding complications in all patients undergoing pacemaker or ICD implantation or replacement between January 2007 and may 2009. In this cohort, 43 patients (10%) were implanted with an INR≥2 while 36 patients (8%) were implanted with an INR<2 and 352 patients (82%) didn't receive anticoagulants. No complication (0/36) has been observed in patients having an INR<2, while 3/43 (7%) complications have been observed in patients with an INR≥2 and 13/352 (3.7%) in patients in the control group (p=0.3093). Duration of the hospital stay was similar in the three groups: 6.2 days in patients with an INR<2, 6.8 days in the group with an INR≥2 and 6.2days in the control group (p=0.686).
Conclusion:
Pacemaker and ICD implantation or replacement without withdrawing of oral anticoagulants and an INR≥2 was not associated with an increase of the hemorrhagic risk.
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