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Tachyarrhythmias

Clinical features
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis
Therapy

Anticoagulate your patient before and after cardioversion c

Why?

  • Anticoagulation preceding and up to a month after cardioversion reduces thromboembolism c

Anticoagulation reduces thromboembolism following cardioversion

Patient Treatment Comparison Outcome CER RRR
(95% CI)		 NNT
(95% CI)
undergoing DC cardioversion for AF or flutter c anticoagulation no anticoagulation thromboembolism
at 6 weeks 		2.2% 100%
 45
(25 to 220)

Expiry date: July 2004
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Author   CM   Ball
Reviewer   H   Oral
CAT Writers   CM   Ball , N   Shenker , CJ   Wotton