2018 Focused Update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation

Can J Cardiol. 2018 Nov;34(11):1371-1392. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2018.08.026.

Abstract

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) Atrial Fibrillation Guidelines Committee provides periodic reviews of new data to produce focused updates that address clinically important advances in atrial fibrillation (AF) management. This 2018 Focused Update addresses: (1) anticoagulation in the context of cardioversion of AF; (2) the management of antithrombotic therapy for patients with AF in the context of coronary artery disease; (3) investigation and management of subclinical AF; (4) the use of antidotes for the reversal of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants; (5) acute pharmacological cardioversion of AF; (6) catheter ablation for AF, including patients with concomitant AF and heart failure; and (7) an integrated approach to the patient with AF and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. The recommendations were developed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) standards. Individual studies and literature were reviewed for quality and bias; the literature review process and evidence tables are included as Supplementary Material and are available on the CCS Web site. Details of the updated recommendations are presented, along with their background and rationale. This document is linked to an updated summary of all CCS AF guidelines recommendations, from 2010 to the present 2018 Focused Update, which is provided in the Supplementary Material.

Publication types

  • Practice Guideline
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Antidotes / therapeutic use
  • Atrial Fibrillation / complications
  • Atrial Fibrillation / therapy*
  • Catheter Ablation
  • Coagulants / therapeutic use
  • Comorbidity
  • Coronary Artery Disease / complications
  • Coronary Artery Disease / drug therapy
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Electric Countershock
  • Fibrinolytic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Heart Failure / complications
  • Heart Failure / therapy
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Hemorrhage / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Risk Factors
  • Societies, Medical
  • Stroke / etiology
  • Stroke / prevention & control

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Anticoagulants
  • Antidotes
  • Coagulants
  • Fibrinolytic Agents