Factors in Initial Anticoagulation Choice in Hospitalized Patients With Pulmonary Embolism.

Importance: Despite guideline recommendations to use low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) or direct oral anticoagulants in the treatment of most patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE), US-based studies have found increasing use of unfractionated heparin (UFH) in hospitalized patients.

Objective: To identify barriers and facilitators of guideline-concordant anticoagulation in patients hospitalized with acute PE.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This qualitative study conducted semistructured interviews from February 1 to June 3, 2024, that were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed in an iterative process using reflexive thematic analysis.

Implementing and evaluating shared decision-making before transcatheter aortic valve implantation with a dedicated pathway and questionnaire.

Aims: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement for patients with aortic valve stenosis. The choice between TAVI, surgery, or a conservative approach should be based upon multiple factors including clinical considerations, technical feasibility, and informed patient preference. In this context, engaging patients in a shared decision-making (SDM) process becomes essential, but this practice is generally underused.

New Targets for Antithrombotic Medications: Seeking to Decouple Thrombosis from Hemostasis.

Arterial and venous thromboses are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Numerous antithrombotic agents are currently available with antiplatelet, thrombolytic/fibrinolytic, and anticoagulant activity. However, all the currently available antithrombotic agents carry a risk of bleeding that often prevents their use.

Evaluation of patient and encounter decision aid interventions for atrial fibrillation: Baseline characteristics of the RED-AF study - A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The Randomized Evaluation of Decision Support Interventions for Atrial Fibrillation (RED-AF) trial is a multi-site, randomized controlled clinical trial examining the effectiveness of a patient decision aid and an encounter decision aid in promoting shared decision-making (SDM) during a clinical encounter for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We sought to describe baseline characteristics of patients and clinicians in the trial and compare them to the demographics of the larger AF population. We also conducted an analysis of possible predictors of attrition rates at baseline, 6 and 12 months.

Prevalence of discussions around left atrial appendage occlusion as a treatment option in patients on oral anticoagulation experiencing a major bleeding event.

Background: Guidelines recommend considering percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at moderate to high stroke risk and contraindications to long-term anticoagulation. Discontinuation of anticoagulation in this patient population, without an alternative treatment option, may place patients at unnecessary risk. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of discussions around LAAO as a treatment option following major bleeding adverse events in patients on oral anticoagulation for AF and to identify the proportion of patients stopping anticoagulation without evidence of LAAO discussions.