Patients with intracranial bleeding and atrial fibrillation treated with left atrial appendage occlusion: Results from the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug registry.

Background: In patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), intracranial bleeding (ICB) constitutes a very challenging situation in which the rate of both ischemic and hemorrhagic events is increased. In these patients, left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) might represent a very valid alternative.

Objectives: To investigate the procedural safety and long-term outcome of patients undergoing LAAO therapy due to previous ICB.

Methods: Data from the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug multicenter registry on 1047 consecutive patients were analyzed. Patients with previous ICB as indication for LAAO were compared to patients with other indications.

Results: A total of 198 patients (18.9%) with previous ICB were identified. The CHADS-VASc score was similar (4.5±1.5 vs. 4.4±1.6, p=0.687) and the HAS-BLED score was higher in patients with previous ICB compared to those without (3.5±1.1 vs. 3.1±1.2, p<0.001). No significant differences in peri-procedural major adverse events were observed (2.5 vs 5.4%, p=0.1). Patients with previous ICB were more frequently on single acetylsalicylic acid therapy after LAAO (42.4% vs. 28.3%; p<0.001). With an average follow-up of 1.3years, the observed annual stroke/TIA rate (procedure and follow-up) for patients with previous ICB was 1.4% (75% relative risk reduction). The observed annual major bleeding rate (procedure and follow-up) for patients with previous ICB was 0.7% (89% relative risk reduction).

Conclusions: In patients with NVAF and previous ICB, LAAO seemed to be a safe procedure and was associated with a significant reduction in stroke/TIA and a remarkably low frequency of major bleeding during follow-up.