Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation: The Task Force for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

Abstract

The content of these European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines has been published for personal and educational use only. No commercial use is authorized. No part of the ESC Guidelines may be translated or reproduced in any form without written permission from the ESC. Permission can be obtained upon submission of a written request to Oxford University Press, the publisher of the European Heart Journal and the party authorized to handle such permissions on behalf of the ESC.Disclaimer. The ESC Guidelines represent the views of the ESC and were arrived at after careful consideration of the available evidence at the time they were written. Health professionals are encouraged to take them fully into account when exercising their clinical judgement. The guidelines do not, however, override the individual responsibility of health professionals to make appropriate decisions in the circumstances of the individual patients, in consultation with that patient, and where appropriate and necessary the patient's guardian or carer. It is also the health professional's responsibility to verify the rules and regulations applicable to drugs and devices at the time of prescription.

Short‐Term Risk of Bleeding During Heparin Bridging at Initiation of Vitamin K Antagonist Therapy in More Than 90 000 Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Managed in Outpatient Care

“…First, recommendations in guidelines9, 10, 12 and summaries of product characteristics14, 15 do not strongly advise against bridging therapy. Indeed, several health professionals have criticized the lack of clarity of these guidelines 17, 18, 19, 42, 43…”

“…There is an overall consensus in favor of a bridging therapy prior to urgent cardioversion in patients with life‐threatening hemodynamic instability caused by new‐onset NVAF 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. The recommendation in guidelines9, 10, 12 and summaries of product characteristics14, 15 is less clear for those with stable NVAF who do not require rapid anticoagulation.…”

“…The recommendation in guidelines9, 10, 12 and summaries of product characteristics14, 15 is less clear for those with stable NVAF who do not require rapid anticoagulation. In real‐life conditions, a bridging regimen is commonly used in those with a low stroke risk 16, 17, 18, 19.…”

Cardioversion Efficacy Using Pulsed Biphasic or Biphasic Truncated Exponential Waveforms: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Symptoms were assessed according to the European Heart Rhythm Association score of AF‐related symptoms 13. All data on medications and comorbidities were retrieved from the patient's medical records corresponding to the day before cardioversion.…”

Automatic detection of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients with ischaemic stroke: better than routine diagnostic workup?

“…According to the 2010 European Society of Cardiology guideline on AF 5, we defined AF as showing absolutely irregular RR intervals without any repetitive ECG pattern, lacking a distinct p‐wave on surface ECG and showing an atrial cycle length of <200 ms (>300 beats/min). Only episodes lasting at least 30 s and not atrial flutter were included.…”