Circulation Journal
Online ISSN : 1347-4820
Print ISSN : 1346-9843
ISSN-L : 1346-9843
Arrhythmia/Electrophysiology
Comparison of Dabigatran and Uninterrupted Warfarin in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Cardiac Rhythm Device Implantations
– Case-Control Study –
Jedrzej KosiukEmmanuel KoutalasMichael DoeringSotirios NediosPhilipp SommerSascha RolfAngeliki DarmaOle A. BreithardtBorislav DinovGerhard HindricksSergio RichterAndreas Bollmann
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2014 Volume 78 Issue 10 Pages 2402-2407

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Abstract

Background:The incidence of postoperative complications following pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantations in patients treated with new oral anticoagulation agents has not been studied. Here we present a first comparison of complications after cardiac rhythm device (CRD) implantations in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with dabigatran or uninterrupted warfarin.Methods and Results:Using a case-control study design, we compared complications within 30 days after 236 CRD procedures performed under uninterrupted warfarin (n=118) or interrupted dabigatran (n=118).There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of both groups. In the warfarin group, 9 (8%) pocket hematomas were observed vs. 3 (3%) in the dabigatran group (P=0.075). Two complications in the warfarin group necessitated surgical intervention as opposed to none in the dabigatran group (P=0.156). The postprocedural blood loss expressed as a drop in hemoglobin was significantly greater in the warfarin group (−0.9±0.7 vs. −0.5±0.4 mmol/L, P=0.023). In the dabigatran group, 1 case of transient ischemic attack occurred. The mean time to hospital discharge was shorter in patients treated with dabigatran (2.5±2.3 vs. 3.8±4.1 days, P=0.02).Conclusions:The incidence and severity of bleeding complications may be lower in patients treated with periprocedurally discontinued dabigatran when compared with uninterrupted warfarin therapy. Further evaluation of peri-interventional complications and establishment of an optimal anticoagulation management protocol are needed. (Circ J 2014; 78: 2402–2407)

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© 2014 THE JAPANESE CIRCULATION SOCIETY
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