• Madan Raj Aryal, Paras Karmacharya, Anil Pandit, Fayaz Hakim, Ranjan Pathak, Naba Raj Mainali, Anene Ukaigwe, Maryam Mahmood, Madan Badal, and F David Fortuin.
• Department of Internal Medicine, Reading Health System, West Reading, Pennsylvania, USA 19611.
• Heart Lung Circ. 2015 Feb 1; 24 (2): 185-92.

BackgroundAlthough dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with clopidogrel and aspirin is a widely accepted strategy in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), this approach is not evidence based. We therefore sought to systematically review the current evidence for this practice in terms of 30-day outcome looking at stroke, MI, bleeding, and death.MethodsRelevant studies were identified through electronic literature search. Studies involving single antiplatelet therapy (SAPT) and DAPT in patients undergoing TAVR were included. Study specific risk ratios were calculated and combined using random-effects model meta-analysis.ResultsAnalysis of data from 410 patients, stroke occurred in seven (3.16%) of SAPT and six (3.17%) of DAPT RR=1.03 (95% CI, 0.36-2.96, P=0.96). In analysis of 530 patients, MI occurred in three (1.07%) of SAPT and one (0.40%) of DAPT RR=1.97 (95% CI, 0.29-13.29, P=0.49), significant bleeding (major, life threatening and bleeding requiring transfusion) occurred in 20 (7.11%) of SAPT and 43 (17.27%) of DAPT RR=0.41 (95% CI, 0.25-0.69, P=0.0006). Number needed to harm for major or life threatening bleeding was 10. Death occurred in 15 (6.78%) of SAPT and 15 (7.94%) of DAPT (RR 0.91; 95% CI 0.46-1.79, P=0.78).ConclusionOur meta-analysis suggests that at 30 days following TAVR there is no difference between post-procedural SAPT versus DAPT for the risk of stroke or MI and DAPT may have a higher bleeding risk. Adequately powered RCTs are warranted to clarify the optimal antiplatelet treatment strategy following TAVR.Copyright © 2014 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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