OasisLMS

Join Digital Education Committee Member and podcast host Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD, and her guests Helmut Pürerfellner, MD, FHRS, and Jonathan M. Kalman, MBBS, PhD, FHRS for this week's Lead episode. This episode was recorded LIVE at APHRS 2025 in Yokohama, Japan.


The OCEAN randomized trial found that in patients who remained free of atrial arrhythmia at least one year after successful catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, continuing anticoagulation with rivaroxaban did not significantly reduce the risk of stroke, systemic embolism, or covert cerebral infarcts compared with low-dose aspirin, with both groups experiencing very low event rates. Additionally, rivaroxaban was associated with a higher incidence of bleeding, suggesting that long-term anticoagulation may not be necessary for many post-ablation patients with low to moderate stroke risk. 

• Evaluate the evidence regarding the risks and benefits of continuing oral anticoagulation after successful catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.
• Interpret the clinical implications of low thromboembolic event rates and increased bleeding risk when comparing anticoagulation with antiplatelet therapy in post-ablation patients.
• Apply study findings to clinical decision-making by identifying which patient populations may safely discontinue long-term anticoagulation after atrial fibrillation ablation.

Article Authors

Atul Verma, M.D., David H. Birnie, M.D., Chenyang Jiang, M.D., Ph.D., Hein Heidbüchel, M.D., Gerhard Hindricks, M.D., Paulus Kirchhof, M.D., D.Sc., Jeff S. Healey, M.D. , Yunhe Wang, M.D., Nikolaos Dagres, M.D., Marc W. Deyell, M.D., Prashanthan Sanders, M.B., B.S., Ph.D., Rajeev K. Pathak, M.B., B.S., Ph.D., Pieter Koopman, M.D., Dieter Nuyens, M.D., Paul Novak, M.D., Guy Amit, M.D., Charles Dussault, M.D., Bhavanesh Makanjee, M.D., F. Russell Quinn, M.D., Umjeet Jolly, M.D., Leon Iden, M.D., Malte Kuniss, M.D., Mukul Sharma, M.D., Andrew Ha, M.D., Vidal Essebag, M.D., Ph.D., Jean Champagne, M.D., Michael D. Hill, M.D., Eric E. Smith, M.D., M.P.H., and George A. Wells, Ph.D., for the OCEAN Investigators

Podcast Contributors

Melissa E. Middeldorp, MPH, PhD

Helmut Pürerfellner, MD, FHRS

Jonathan M. Kalman, MBBS, PhD, FHRS

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Host and Contributor Disclosure(s):

H. Purerfellner

 

Staff Disclosure(s) (note: HRS staff are NOT in control of educational content. Disclosures are provided solely for full transparency to the learner):

S. Sailor: No relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.