Figure-of-8 Suture With a 3-Way Tap Versus Manual Compression After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

BACKGROUND: ) offers a simple and low-cost alternative to manual compression (MC). OBJECTIVES: The HARNESS (Haemostasis After Venous Access in Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation) randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of Fo8TAP and its impact on post-procedural bed rest duration. METHODS: with 2-hour bed rest (TAP-2). The primary endpoint of any access site complication before hospital discharge was assessed for superiority (TAP-4 vs MC-4) and noninferiority (TAP-2 vs TAP-4). Bleeding was graded from 1 (minor) to 4 (life-threatening). Secondary endpoints included times to hemostasis, catheter laboratory exit, and mobilization. RESULTS: (MC-4: 16 min; TAP-4: 9 min; TAP-2: 8 min; P < 0.001). Median time to mobilization was shortest with TAP-2 (MC-4: 242 min; TAP-4: 241 min; TAP-2: 122 min; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: was superior to MC in lowering the incidence of access site complications and was associated with health care efficiencies. However, a 2-hour bed rest strategy failed to meet noninferiority criteria versus 4 hours. (Haemostasis After Venous Access in Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation [HARNESS]; NCT06470555).