Transesophageal Versus Intracardiac Echocardiogram in Patients at High-Risk for Thromboembolic Events Undergoing Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

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Objective: To compare safety outcomes in patients at high-risk of thromboembolic events (TE) that underwent atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation with pre-procedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) versus intracardiac echocardiogram (ICE). Background: TEE is routinely performed in selected patients undergoing AF ablation, particularly in non-paroxysmal AF and high-risk of TE. Method: Patients at high-risk for TE (CHA2DS2 -VASc >2 and non-paroxysmal AF) were selected from the Montefiore Medical Center prospective AF ablation registry. Rates of left atrial and/or left atrial appendage (LA/LAA) thrombi or cerebrovascular accidents within 48 hours of the procedure and at 30 days follow-up were compared between patients that had LA/LAA screening with TEE vs. ICE. Results: A total of 231 patients [38 (16.5%) warfarin, 120 (59.1%) apixaban, 65 (28.1%) rivaroxaban, and 8 (3.5%) dabigatran] were enrolled. There were no differences between groups regarding baseline demographics. All patients had non-paroxysmal AF and the mean CHA2DS2-VASc was 4.0 {plus minus} 1.1 (TEE: 4.1 +/- 1.0; ICE: 3.9 +/- 1.1, p = 0.42). Forty patients (17.3%) had TEE prior to AF ablation. Of these patients, 14 (35%) had smoke and none (0%) had LA/LAA thrombus. In the ICE group (191 patients, 83%), none (0%) had LA/LAA thrombus or smoke. There were no TE within 48 hours of AF ablation in either group. There was one TE (stroke) in the ICE group (p=0.32) during follow up. Conclusion: TEE may not be necessary when performing AF ablation in patients at high-risk of TE if appropriate peri-procedural anticoagulation and detailed LA/LAA evaluation with ICE is implemented.