EP News: Clinical

Bernie et  al (Eur Heart J 2018;39:3973, PMID 30462279) evaluated 2 strategies to manage direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) at the time of pacemaker and defibrillator surgery. They hypothesized that performing device surgery without DOAC interruption would result in a reduced hematoma rate. The investigators randomly assigned patients with atrial fibrillation and CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥2 to continued vs interrupted DOAC (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or apixaban). The primary outcome—pocket hematoma resulting in reoperation, interruption of anticoagulation, or prolongation of hospital stay—was blindly ev aluated.
Source: Heart Rhythm - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: EP News Source Type: research