title: Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery: the results of the European Heart Rhythm Association Survey.
abstract: The purpose of this European Heart Rhythm Association survey was to assess the current practice concerning the use of oral anticoagulation in patients with post-operative atrial fibrillation (pre-existing or new-onset). The survey highlights the considerable heterogeneity of the type of anticoagulation, with 25% of the centres never using the non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in this setting, as well the timing of oral anticoagulation initiation, the use and dosing of low-molecular-weight heparins, and the duration of anticoagulation when sinus rhythm is restored. One-third of the centres stated that they perceived that the risk of major pericardial bleeding requiring pericardiocentesis was higher when NOACs were used compared with vitamin K antagonists. Overall, the responding centres estimated the incidence of major pericardial haemorrhage to be 2.4%. More data are needed to inform practice guidelines in this field.
authors.affiliation: Heart Center Hasselt, Jessa Hospital, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vranckx
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Belgrade University, Belgrade, Serbia Cardiology Clinic, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Potpara
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrophysiology, University Leipzig-Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dagres
authors.affiliation: Heart Center Hasselt, Jessa Hospital, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium Hasselt University and Heart Center Hasselt, Jessa Hospital, Stadsomvaart 11, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium heinheid@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heidbuchel
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: Anticoagulation; EHRA survey; EP wire; Guidelines; Haemopericardioum; NOACs; Non-vitamin K antagonists oral anticoagulants; Post-operative atrial fibrillation; Stroke prevention; Warfarin