New blood thinners may be safer after heart surgery

NCT ID NCT04284839

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Population Health Research Institute Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study compares newer blood thinners (DOACs) to the standard drug warfarin in patients who need anticoagulation after open-heart surgery. About 3500 adults with atrial fibrillation will be randomly assigned to receive either a DOAC or warfarin for 30 days. The main goal is to see which approach causes fewer major bleeding events.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) such as apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, or rivaroxaban, compared to warfarin
What this could lead to: If DOACs prove safer, patients may have fewer major bleeding events after heart surgery while still preventing strokes.
What could go wrong: This is an early-phase trial with 3500 participants; results may not apply to all patients, and bleeding risks remain a concern.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

atrial fibrillation Hemorrhage

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BLEEDING POST CARDIAC SURGERY INDICATION FOR ANTICOAGULATION

Contacts and locations

Locations

Hamilton General Hospital
RECRUITING

Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 2X2, Canada
Health Science Centre
RECRUITING

St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3V6, Canada
Health Sciences North Research Institute
RECRUITING

Greater Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 5J1, Canada
Heart Center Leipzig
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Leipzig, Saxony, 04289, Germany
Hôpital Sacré-Coeur de Montréal
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Montreal, Quebec, H4J1C5, Canada
IUCPQ-ULaval
RECRUITING

Québec, Quebec, G1V 4G5, Canada
Montreal Heart Institute
RECRUITING

Montreal, Quebec, H1T 1C8, Canada
Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia
Saint John Regional Hospital
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L4L2, Canada
St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
RECRUITING

Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia
St. Boniface Hospital
RECRUITING

Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2H 2A6, Canada
Sunnybrook Hospital
RECRUITING

Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
Toronto General Hospital
RECRUITING

Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
University Hospital Bonn Heart Center
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Bonn, 53127, Germany
University Hospital Jena
RECRUITING

Jena, Thuringia, Germany, Germany
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
RECRUITING

Hamburg, 20246, Germany
University of Alberta Hospital
RECRUITING

Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2C8, Canada
University of British Columbia
RECRUITING

Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
West-German Heart and Vascular Center, University of Duisburg-Essen
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Essen, 45147, Germany

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