Elective coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention during uninterrupted warfarin therapy

The management of patients anticoagulated with warfarin and referred for coronary angiography presents a substantial challenge to the physician who must minimize risks of periprocedural hemorrhage and thromboembolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of performing diagnostic coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention during uninterrupted warfarin therapy. Patients treated with warfarin were prospectively identified and enrolled in the study. Nineteen diagnostic cardiac catheterizations and six percutaneous coronary interventions were performed in 23 patients. The mean international normalized ratio was 2.4 +/- 0.5 (range, 1.8-3.5). Hemostasis was achieved with AngioSeal following 21 procedures and with Perclose following 4 procedures. No patient experienced a predefined endpoint. Specifically, no patient experienced procedure-related myocardial infarction, major or minor bleeding. We conclude that cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention may be considered in the setting of uninterrupted warfarin therapy. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.