Postoperative Strokes and Intracranial Bleeds in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: The FibStroke Study.

BACKGROUND

Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently undergo invasive procedures. Optimal perioperative use of oral anticoagulation (OAC) and heparin bridging is not well defined.

HYPOTHESIS

Discontinuation of OAC for minor procedures/operations places AF patients at risk for thromboembolism.

METHODS

In this study, we assessed perioperative antithrombotic treatment in patients with AF who suffered a postoperative stroke or intracranial bleeding. The FibStroke Study includes AF patients with an ischemic stroke or intracranial bleed identified from the discharge registries of 4 Finnish hospitals. In total, 3632 consecutive patients developed 3252 ischemic strokes and 794 intracranial bleeds. All invasive procedures during the 30 days preceding the stroke or intracranial bleed were identified.

RESULTS

A total of 194/3252 (6.0%) ischemic strokes and 23/794 (2.9%) intracranial bleeds were preceded by a procedure. Altogether, 69% of the patients were on OAC prior to index procedure, OAC was interrupted in 81.2% of the procedures preceding a stroke, and heparin bridging was used in 27.8% of interruptions. Of the procedures leading to stroke, 42.3% were low-bleeding-risk procedures, and OAC was interrupted in 84.7% of these procedures. The median time from procedure to stroke was 4 days. Heparin bridging was used in 54.5% of OAC interruptions preceding intracranial bleeding and combination of anticoagulation with antiplatelet therapy by 43.5% of patients with postoperative intracranial bleeding.

CONCLUSIONS

Perioperative interruption of OAC is common in patients who suffer a postoperative stroke, even in patients with low-bleeding-risk procedures. Postoperative intracranial bleeding is frequently preceded by perioperative heparin bridging.