Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyRandomised controlled trial
Figure-of-8 Suture With a 3-Way Tap Versus Manual Compression After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
- randomized controlled trial
Authors' conclusion
After AF catheter ablation, Fo8TAP 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).
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation via unilateral femoral venous accessenrolled and randomized · MC-4 110 · TAP-4 110 · TAP-2 116
- Participants
- 336 patients
- Comparison
- superiority and noninferiority
- MC-4n = 110
- TAP-4n = 110
- TAP-2n = 116
- Primary endpoint
- any access site complication
- Follow-up
- Before hospital discharge
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
TAP-4 vs MC-4: P = 0.002 · TAP-2 vs TAP-4: P = 0.156
Secondary outcomes
Median time to hemostasis
Median time to catheter laboratory exit
Median time to mobilization
- Median time to hemostasis: P < 0.001
- Median time to catheter laboratory exit: P < 0.001
- Median time to mobilization: P < 0.001
Safety
Access site events by type
- grade 1 bleeding
- 85/92, 92.4%
- minor hematomas
- 7/92, 7.6%
- No major vascular complications occurred
Original publication
Figure-of-8 Suture With a 3-Way Tap Versus Manual Compression After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. Published 19 February 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacep.2026.01.014
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it