WATCH-TAVR, WATCHMAN for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the left atrial appendage occlusion with WATCHMAN Device in prevention of stroke and bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

WATCH-TAVR is a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Only centers with approval for commercial WATCHMAN implantation will be included in this trial. Subjects will be enrolled at up to 32 centers in the United States. There will be up to 350 subjects enrolled, with 175 patients randomized to TAVR + medical therapy and 175 patients randomized to simultaneous TAVR+WATCHMAN to accumulate the necessary 191 primary events. Enrollment is expected to occur over the course of 18 months. Patients will be followed for a total of 2 years. Patients with non-valvular AF undergoing standard of care commercial TAVR will be enrolled in the trial.

For patients who receive the WATCHMAN device, plan of care will follow WATCHMAN labeling.Patients randomized to receive the WATCHMAN device will receive anticoagulation with warfarin and aspirin for 6 weeks after the procedure. After 6 weeks, the plan of care will follow WATCHMAN labeling. Patients randomized to the TAVR + medical therapy arm will be treated in accordance with standard of care with either warfarin, other anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy, or no anticoagulation at the discretion of the treating physician. All patients will continue to receive routine post-TAVR follow-up and care.Patients will be monitored for primary and secondary endpoints as outlined. Baseline information and laboratory data will be collected as described in the protocol.

At trial conclusion, total number of subjects enrolled was 349. There were 172 subjects enrolled in the TAVR + Medical Therapy arm and 177 subjects enrolled in the TAVR + WATCHMAN arm.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men and women ≥ 18 years of age.
2. The patient meets criteria for and is scheduled to undergo TAVR procedure
3. The patient has documented paroxysmal, persistent, or permanent atrial fibrillation.
4. The patient meets the WATCHMAN labeling guidelines and is eligible to undergo the WATCHMAN implantation procedure.
5. The patient is eligible for short term warfarin therapy.
6. The patient or legal representative is able to understand and willing to provide written informed consent to participate in the trial.
7. The patient is able and willing to return for required follow-up visits and examinations.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. The patient had a stroke or TIA within the last 6 months prior to enrollment.
2. Contraindication for short term anticoagulation.

3 .Moderate or severe Mitral Stenosis with mean gradient across Mitral Valve \>10 mm Hg or Mitral Valve Area \< 1.2cm2.

4. The patient has symptomatic carotid disease (i.e.,carotid stenosis ≥ 50% associated with ipsilateral transient or visual TIA evidenced by amaurosis fugax, ipsilateral hemispheric TIAs or ipsilateral stroke within 6 months).

5. Prior occlusion of LAA.

6. The patient has an implanted mechanical mitral valve.

7. The patient requires long-term warfarin therapy due to:

1. Secondary to conditions such as prior arterial embolism or other indications such as pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis within the previous 6 months
2. The patient is in a hypercoaguable state; exclude the patient if per medical record documentation, the patient meets any of the following criteria:

   * Thrombosis occurring ≤ 40 years of age
   * Idiopathic or recurrent VTE (venous thrombo-embolism)
   * Thrombosis at an unusual site (cerebral veins, hepatic veins, renal veins, IVC, mesenteric veins)
   * Family history of VTE or of inherited prothrombotic disorder, recurrence/extension of thrombosis while adequately anticoagulated.

     8. The patient is actively enrolled in another trial of a cardiovascular device or an investigational drug (post-market study participation and registries are acceptable).

     9. The patient is pregnant or pregnancy is planned during the course of the investigation if patient is of child bearing potential.

     10. Any clinically significant medical condition or presence of any laboratory abnormality prior to randomization that is considered by the investigator to be clinically important and could interfere with the conduct of the study or not meeting procedure guidelines for TAVR or WATCHMAN.

     11. The patient has a life expectancy of less than two years.