Adequate Initial Heparin Dosage for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Patients Receiving Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants.

Background And Objective: During atrial fibrillation ablation, heparin is required and is guided by the activated clotting time (ACT). Differences in the ACT before ablation and adequate initial heparin dosing in patients receiving non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) were examined.

Methods: Patients who received warfarin (control, N = 90), dabigatran etexilate (N = 90), rivaroxaban (N = 90) and apixaban (N = 90) were studied.