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Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is expanding towards a low-risk patient category as a result of technical advances and operators’ improved skills. However, the post-TAVR antithrombotic regimen remains challenging. Single antiplatelet therapy appears to be the best compromise when there is no compelling indication for chronic oral anticoagulation. Whether it should be aspirin or clopidogrel is not established. There is no supportive evidence to use oral anticoagulation when there is no established indication for oral anticoagulation other than the TAVR procedure. The gap in evidence as to whether DOACs should be preferred over VKA remains when there is an indication for oral anticoagulation (OAC) use. It seems that DOACs are not the same and randomized trials are awaited. Likewise, whether oral anticoagulant therapy should be continued or interrupted during the procedure remains unclear.
Guidelines and Expert Consensus | Recommendations | Class of Recommendation | Level of Evidence |
---|---|---|---|
ESC/EACTS 2021 Guidelines [18] | |||
Patients without underlying indication for chronic OAC | |||
Lifelong single antiplatelet therapy (aspirin 75–100 mg daily or clopidogrel 75mg daily) is recommended after TAVR in patients with no baseline indication for OAC | I | A | |
Routine use OAC is not recommended in patients with no baseline indication for OAC | III | B | |
Patients with underlying indication for chronic OAC | |||
OAC is recommended lifelong for TAVR patients who have other indications for OAC | I | B | |
AHA/ACC 2020 Guidelines [24] | |||
Patients without underlying indication for chronic OAC | |||
For patients with a bioprosthetic TAVR, aspirin 75–100 mg daily is reasonable in the absence of other indications for oral anticoagulants. | IIa | B-R | |
For patients with a bioprosthetic TAVR who are at low risk of bleeding, dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin 75–100 mg and clopidogrel 75 mg may be reasonable for 3–6 months after valve implantation. | IIb | B-NR | |
For patients with a bioprosthetic TAVR who are at low risk of bleeding, anticoagulation with a VKA to achieve an INR of 2.5 may be reasonable for at least 3 months after valve implantation. | IIb | B-NR | |
For patients with a bioprosthetic TAVR, treatment with low-dose rivaroxaban (10 mg daily) plus aspirin (75-100 mg) is contraindicated in absence of other indications for oral anticoagulants. | III | B-R | |
Patients with underlying indication for chronic OAC | |||
No specific recommendation | |||
CCS 2019 Position Statement [31] | |||
Patients without underlying indication for chronic OAC | |||
Lifelong aspirin 75–100 mg daily | Expert consensus | ||
In patients with a recent PCI, dual antiplatelet therapy (aspirin 75–100 mg/d plus clopidogrel 75 mg/d) may be continued as per the treating physician | Expert consensus | ||
Patients with underlying indication for chronic OAC | |||
DOAC for patients with atrial fibrillation unless contra-indicated* in addition to aspirin for TAVR patients | Expert consensus | ||
Oral anticoagulation for other indications as per standard guidelines | Expert consensus | ||
It is prudent to avoid triple therapy in patients at increased risk of bleeding. | Expert consensus | ||
ACCF/AATS/SCAI/STS 2012 Expert Consensus [20] | |||
Patients without underlying indication for chronic OAC | |||
Antiplatelet therapy for at least 3–6 months after TAVR is recommended to decrease the risk of thrombotic or thromboembolic complications | Expert consensus | ||
Patients with underlying indication for chronic OAC | |||
In patients treated with warfarin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, or factor Xa inhibitor, it is reasonable to continue low-dose aspirin, but other antiplatelet therapy should be avoided, if possible | Expert consensus | ||
ACCP-2012 Clinical practice guidelines [32] | |||
Patients without underlying indication for chronic OAC | |||
Aspirin (50–100 mg/d) plus clopidogrel (75 mg/d) over VKA therapy and over no platelet therapy in the first 3 months | 2 | C | |
Patients with underlying indication for chronic OAC | |||
No specific recommendation |