Meta-Analysis of Usefulness of Anticoagulation After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Since the advent of bioprosthetic valves, the implications of long-term anticoagulation after valve replacement are unclear. There are very little data on outcomes of long-term anticoagulation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Our aim was to conduct a systematic review of literature regarding anticoagulation after TAVI. The existing literature on anticoagulation after bioprosthetic valve replacement was thoroughly reviewed, including the most recent American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 2017 guidelines for management of valvular disease, which is based on sparse, nonrandomized retrospective data. A systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases was conducted to retrieve articles reporting outcomes on anticoagulation after TAVI, and 5 articles were retrieved. Pooled analysis revealed lower bleeding rates in the anticoagulated group (22% vs 35%, p = 0.006). Stroke and mortality were inconsistently reported by the studies. The data regarding outcomes of patients on anticoagulation after TAVI are sparse. Systematic collection of anticoagulation data in the existing registries and future trials should be strongly considered in patients undergoing TAVI.