AF Ablation Study Shows More Bleeding, More Clots With Pradaxa

Atrial fibrillation (AF) refers to the most common type of irregular heartbeat. Those with AF may experience palpitations, fainting, chest pain, or congestive heart failure. AF also increases the risk of stroke. 

There are two approaches to treating AF.  The first approach involves preventing complications from AF. The heart rhythm is left unchanged, and AF patients are prescribed blood thinners to keep the blood from clotting. The other treatment involves changing the heart rhythm to a more normal rhythm. Patients undergo a procedure known as AF ablation. These patients often need to take blood thinners before, after and during the procedure.

The blood thinners most commonly prescribed to patients with AF are Pradaxa and warfarin. Warfarin was introduced in 1948 as a rat poison and approved for human medical use in 1954. Pradaxa was approved in 2010. Both drugs are effective at preventing clotting, but each drug has potentially dangerous side-effects, including excessive internal bleeding.

In a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 290 patients with AF underwent an AF ablation procedure. Half the patients were prescribed Pradaxa and half were prescribed Warfarin. How did the drugs compare:

	Pradaxa	Warfarin
Complications Caused By Blood Clots	3	0
Major Bleeding Complications	9	1

The researchers determined that Pradaxa may not be appropriate for patients undergoing AF ablation, but another doctor warned that there is also risk in switching blood thinners. Talk to your doctor about the best option for you.

Have you suffered from excessive internal bleeding after taking Pradaxa? You may be eligible to file a Texas Pradaxa injury claim. To learn more, request your free copy of Texas Pradaxa injury attorney Kay Van Wey’s book, 7 Secrets the Pharmaceutical Industry Does NOT Want You to Know.

If you have questions or would like to discuss your injury with a Pradaxa injury attorney, contact Van Wey Law at 800-489-5082.