Abstract 17642: Warfarin versus Dabigatran: The Coagulation Activity in the Left Atrium During Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is associated with the potential risk of periprocedural thromboembolic events. Previous studies suggested performing AF ablation with continuous warfarin reduced the risk of thromboembolic events, otherwise the safety and efficacy of periprocedural dabigatran was controversial. We aim to compare the differences of the coagulable state in the left atrium (LA) between the anticoagulation strategies. Methods: We divided 158 patients who underwent AF ablation into 3 groups: ablation with off warfarin (n=100, WF-off group), ablation with perioperative warfarin therapy (n=33, WF group), and ablation with dabigatran therapy (n=25, D group). Warfarin was stopped 1 day before the procedure in WF-off group. Uninterrupted warfarin therapy was used in WF group and interrupted only on the morning of the procedure with dabigatran in D group. During AF ablation, the blood samples from the LA obtained immediately after the trans-septal puncture before heparin administration i...