Background: Thromboembolism-associated stroke is the most feared complication of Atrial fibrillation (AF). Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (pLAAC) is indicated for stroke prevention in patients with AF who can’t tolerate long-term anticoagulation. We aim to study gender differences in peri-procedural and readmissions outcomes in pLAAC patients. Methods: Using the national readmission database from January 2016 to December 2018, AF patients undergoing the pLAAC procedure were identified. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses and time-to-event Cox regression analyses to conduct the study. Propensity matching with the Greedy method was done for the accuracy of results. Result: 28,819 patients were included in our study. Among them 11,946 (41.5%) were women and 16,873 (58.6%) were men. The mean age of overall population was 76.1 ± 8.5 years, with women ~ 1 year older than men. The overall rate of complications was higher in women (8.6% vs 6.6%, P<0.001), primarily driven by bleeding-related complications i.e., Major bleed (OR: 1.32 95% CI: 1.03-1.69, p=0.029), blood transfusion (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.06-1.97, p=0.019) and cardiac tamponade (OR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.13-2.89, p=0.014). Women had two times higher peri-procedural ischemic stroke. There was no difference in peri-procedural mortality. Women remained at 20% and 13% higher risk for readmission at 30 days and 6 months of discharge. Conclusion: Women had higher peri-procedural complications and were at higher risk of readmissions at 30 days and six months. However, there was no difference in mortality during the index hospitalization. Further studies are necessary to determine causality.

Background: In-hospital permanent pacemaker implantation (PPMI) is a frequent and well-known complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure. The period of monitoring for need for pacing after discharge remains poorly understood. Methods: The National Readmission Database from first six months of calendar year 2016 and 2017 was queried for patient discharged alive after TAVR. All patients with prior pacemakers were excluded. Patients who received pacemaker after discharge (d-PPMI) were compared to a) patients receiving no pacemaker (o-PPMI) or b) patients receiving pacemaker on index admission(i-PPMI) over a 6 month follow-up. Results: Out of 39,993 patients who did not have a prior pacemaker, 4001(10.0%) underwent PPM implantation during index admission (i-PPMI) while over the next 6 months, a further 734 (1.8%) patients underwent the procedure (d-PPMI). For patients receiving PPMI during follow-up post TAVR discharge, the majority (68%) occurred within 14 days. The primary cause of readmission for d-PPMI was heart block in majority of the cases (73%; complete heart block 49%, second degree heart block 4%, bradycardia/other heart block 20%). The d-PPMI group also had a relatively shorter length of stay and a lower comorbidity burden when compared to the i-PPMI group. When compared to the o-PPMI group, the d-PPMI group were more likely to have higher advanced heart block. Conclusions: About one-fifth of pacemakers implanted post TAVR procedures happen during follow-up with a majority of them happening immediately after discharge. Risk stratification at discharge may help to identify patients who undergo PPMI post discharge.