AF: Left atrial appendage closure non-inferior to NOACs
The procedure is a 'reasonable alternative' to oral coagulants in high-risk patients, expert says
In patients with atrial fibrillation at high risk for stroke and bleeding, percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) was noninferior to non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in a multicentre trial.
Czech clinicians randomised 402 patients with atrial fibrillation at high risk for both stroke and bleeding (mean age 73, about 65% men) to either a NOAC (96% apixaban) or LAAC with either a watchman or amulet device.
The primary composite outcome was stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA)