ARRHYTHMIAS-AF ANTICOAGULATION

SUMMARY

1. Antithrombotic therapy to prevent thromboembolism is recommended for all patients with AF irrespective of rate or rhythm control strategy.

2. Warfarin: vitamin K antagonist, target INR 2-3.

3. NOAC: cannot be used in patients with prosthetic valves, rheumatic MS, renal insufficiency, and advanced liver disease.

4. Dabigatran: useful as an alternative in those without prosthetic heart valve, significant valve disease, severe renal failure (Cr clearance < 15 mL/min) or advanced liver disease (impaired baseline clotting function).

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].