Covariates analysis:
The main reason for anticoagulation, in the overall cohort, was AF (n=308, 80.6%).
In the VKA’s group, warfarin was started for AF in 192 patients(73%); 111(57%) of those patients had chronic AF and they were on anticoagulation prior to surgery, either with Warfarin (n=98, 89%) or NOACs(n=13, 11%).
In the NOACs’cohort, anticoagulation was required in 116 patients (95%) for AF. NOACs was used de novo in 49 patients (42%), while sixty-two of those patients (57%) were on NOACs prior to surgery.
All the patients with a mechanical valve were started on Warfarin at postoperative day two (n=62, 23%).
Warfarin was used, with a limited three months length, in six patients (4%) with left ventricular thrombus and atrial myxoma.