Apixaban for Anticoagulation After Robotic Mitral Valve Repair

There is no consensus regarding postoperative anticoagulation after mitral valve repair (MVRep). We compared the outcomes of post-MVRep anticoagulation with apixaban compared to warfarin.

We reviewed data of 666 patients who underwent isolated robotic MVRep between January 2008 and October 2019. We excluded patients who had conversion to sternotomy and those discharged without anticoagulation or on clopidogrel (n = 40). Baseline and intraoperative characteristics and antiplatelet/anticoagulation records were collected. In-hospital and post-discharge complications and overall survival were compared.

Among the 626 studied patients the median age was 58 years (interquartile range, 51-66), 71% were male, and 1% (n = 9) had atrial fibrillation. Eighty percent (n = 499) were discharged on warfarin and 20% on apixaban (n = 127). Almost all patients (126 of 127, 99%) in the apixaban group were also on aspirin at discharge, whereas in the warfarin group only 79% (n = 395) were also on aspirin at discharge. Baseline characteristics were similar, except that the apixaban group had more female patients (46 of 127, 36% vs 136 of 499, 27%, P = .047). There were no differences in in-hospital complications, including stroke. Readmission rate was higher in the apixaban group (15 of 127, 12% vs 30 of 499, 6%, P = .02), driven mostly by postoperative atrial fibrillation (6 of 127 [5%] vs 5 of 499 [1%], respectively; P = .01). There was no difference in other complications (including bleeding and thromboembolic events), or overall mortality within 3 years. Exclusion of patients who did not receive aspirin at discharge did not affect the results.

Anticoagulation with apixaban after minimally invasive robotic MVRep is safe and has similar rates of bleeding and thromboembolism compared to patients treated with warfarin.