New Oral Anticoagulants in Patients Undergoing Atrial Flutter Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation: an Observational Study

Figures & data

Table 1. Baseline patient demographics.

Characteristic	Value
Patients (n)	60
Age (years)	69.2 ± 9.7
Male/female	46 (76.7%)/14 (23.3%)
Hypertension	27 (45.0%)
Diabetes	13 (21.7%)
Previous stroke or embolism	2 (3.3%)
Heart failure or EF <40%	18 (30.0%)
Vascular disease (coronary, peripheral or cerebrovascular)	11 (18.3%)
CHA2DS2-VASc score	2.44 ± 1.46
HAS-BLED score	1.14 ± 0.7
Creatinine clearance (ml/min)	81 ± 29

Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation or n (%), unless stated otherwise.

EF: Ejection fraction.

Table 2. Anticoagulation strategy.

Parameter	Dabigatran	Rivaroxaban
No. of patients (%)	44 (73.3)	16 (26.7)
No. of patients (%) receiving dabigatran 150 mg twice daily or rivaroxaban 20 mg once daily	23 (38.3)	11 (18.3)
No of patients (%) receiving dabigatran 110 mg twice daily or rivaroxaban 15 mg once daily	21 (35.0)	5 (8.3)
Time from last dose before ablation (h)	13.3 ± 16.6	20 ± 2
Time until next dose after ablation (h)	12	12
Duration of treatment before ablation (days)	34 ± 18	24 ± 12
Administration of heparin/LMWH, n (%)	23 (52.8)	13 (81.3)
TEE, n (%)	8 (18.2)	4 (25.0)

LMWH: Low-molecular-weight heparin; TEE: Transesophageal echocardiography.

Table 3. Atrial flutter ablation characteristics.

Parameter	Dabigatran	Rivaroxaban
Flutter before ablation, n (%)	35 (79.5)	12 (75.0)
Ablation in sinus rhythm, n (%)	9 (20.5)	4 (25.0)
Sinus rhythm at the end of the procedure, n (%)	44 (100)	16 (100)
Procedures with double venous access, n (%)	14 (31.8)	10 (62.5)
Procedures with triple venous access, n (%)	30 (68.2)	6 (37.5)

Table 4. Bleeding and ischemic complications after atrial flutter ablation.

Complication	Dabigatran		Rivaroxaban
	110 mg b.i.d. (n = 21)	150 mg b.i.d. (n = 23)	15 mg o.d. (n = 5)	20 mg o.d. (n = 11)
Major bleeding complications	0	0	0	0
Minor bleeding complications	0	3 (13.0%)	0	1 (9.1%)
Hemorrhagic stroke	0	0	0	0
Ischemic stroke	1 (4.8%)	0	0	0
Death	0	0	0	0

b.i.d.: Twice daily; o.d.: Once daily.