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Updated: Jul 26, 2026
28:13
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
[Systemic embolism after reversion to sinusal rhythm of persistent atrial flutter]
A Hernández Madrid1, G Peña Pérez, J M González Rebollo
1Servicio de Cardiología. Unidad de Arritmias. Hospital Ramón y Cajal. Departamento de Medicina. Universidad de Alcalá de Henares. Madrid. Spain.
Revista Clinica Espanola
|May 27, 2003
Summary
Anticoagulation significantly reduces embolic events in patients undergoing atrial flutter reversion. Patients with atrial flutter should receive anticoagulation similar to those with atrial fibrillation before rhythm restoration.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Thrombosis
- Electrophysiology
Context:
- Embolism risk in atrial flutter is often underestimated in clinical practice.
- Restoring sinus rhythm in atrial flutter can precipitate thromboembolic events.
- Existing anticoagulation protocols for atrial fibrillation may be applicable to atrial flutter.
Purpose:
- To compare the incidence of thromboembolic events after rhythm restoration in atrial flutter patients with and without anticoagulation.
- To evaluate the efficacy of anticoagulation in preventing embolism during atrial flutter treatment.
Summary:
- A study compared 79 non-anticoagulated patients (Group I) with 90 anticoagulated patients (Group II) undergoing rhythm restoration for atrial flutter.
- 5% of non-anticoagulated patients experienced embolic events, versus 0% in the anticoagulated group.
- Effective anticoagulation was associated with a significantly lower risk of thromboembolic events (p < 0.05).
Impact:
- Findings suggest that anticoagulation can decrease embolic event incidence after atrial flutter reversion.
- Recommends that patients with persistent atrial flutter undergoing rhythm restoration follow similar anticoagulation guidelines as those with atrial fibrillation.
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