Use of NOAC in Cardioversion.
10.18501/arrhythmia.2016.007
- Author:
Jin Bae KIM
1
Author Information
1. Cardiology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, KyungHee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jinbbai@khu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Atrial Fibrillation;
Cardioversion;
Oral Anticoagulation
- MeSH:
Anticoagulants;
Atrial Fibrillation;
Dabigatran;
Electric Countershock*;
Embolism;
Hemorrhage;
Humans;
Risk Factors;
Rivaroxaban;
Stroke;
Warfarin
- From:International Journal of Arrhythmia
2016;17(1):46-50
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Cardioversion increases the risk for stroke or systemic embolic events, and patients scheduled for cardioversions need several weeks of anticoagulant treatment to prevent these adverse events. Anticoagulant therapy should be considered as a balancing act between the risk of stroke and the risk of life-threatening bleeding. The efficacy of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) was found to be equal to, or even superior, to warfarin for the prevention of stroke, systemic embolism, and other outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation, when all risk factors were considered. There have been few studies independently looking at the efficacy and safety profile of NOACs in cardioversion. The efficacy of both rivaroxaban and dabigatran in preventing stroke or major systemic embolic events post-cardioversion was found to be similar to that of warfarin. The efficacy of apixaban could not be compared based on the available data because of the limited number of procedures performed. However, all three NOACs were found to be safe for use in cardioversion when compared to warfarin.
