NOAC dosage for patients undergoing cardioversion for atrial fibrillation

Join Professor John Camm and Dr Michael Ezekowitz for a discussion of the optimal anticoagulation strategy for a real-life patient case undergoing cardioversion for atrial fibrillation.

Topic

In this video, filmed at ACC 2018, Professor John Camm and Dr Michael Ezekowitz discuss the case of a 78-year old male with well-controlled hypertension who presented to the emergency department with palpitations. Discover the anticoagulation approach taken for this patient after an EKG confirmed atrial fibrillation and a cardioversion was planned. The risks and benefits of warfarin versus non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are also explored, before an in-depth discussion into the optimal NOAC dosage before and after cardioversion.

Target audience

This educational activity is designed for hospitalists, haematologists, interventional cardiologists, internists/physicians, surgeons and any other healthcare professional with an interest or role in the management of patients on anticoagulation undergoing cardioversion for atrial fibrillation.

Learning objectives After completing this educational activity, participants should be able to:

• Understand the rationale for using non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) as anticoagulation therapy for cardioversion in patients who present with early onset atrial fibrillation (AF)
• Select optimal NOAC dosage before and after cardioversion based on clinical and patient parameters
• Recall the key trials evaluating NOACS in patients undergoing cardioversion for AF: dabigatran (RE-LY); rivaroxaban (X-VeRT); apixaban (EMANATE); and edoxaban (ENSURE-AF)