New blood thinners may be safer after heart surgery

NCT ID NCT04284839

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.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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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.

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Hamilton General Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 2X2, Canada

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Health Science Centre

    RECRUITING

    St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3V6, Canada

    Contact

  • Health Sciences North Research Institute

    RECRUITING

    Greater Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 5J1, Canada

    Contact

  • 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

    Contact

    Contact

  • Montreal Heart Institute

    RECRUITING

    Montreal, Quebec, H1T 1C8, Canada

    Contact

    Contact

  • Royal Melbourne Hospital, University of Melbourne

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Parkville, Victoria, 3050, Australia

    Contact

    Contact

  • Saint John Regional Hospital

    ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

    Saint John, New Brunswick, E2L4L2, Canada

  • St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne

    RECRUITING

    Fitzroy, Victoria, 3065, Australia

    Contact

    Contact

  • St. Boniface Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2H 2A6, Canada

    Contact

    Contact

  • Sunnybrook Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada

    Contact

    Contact

  • Toronto General Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada

    Contact

    Contact

  • University Hospital Bonn Heart Center

    ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

    Bonn, 53127, Germany

  • University Hospital Jena

    RECRUITING

    Jena, Thuringia, Germany, Germany

    Contact

    Contact

  • University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

    RECRUITING

    Hamburg, 20246, Germany

    Contact

    Contact

  • University of Alberta Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2C8, Canada

    Contact

    Contact

  • University of British Columbia

    RECRUITING

    Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada

    Contact

  • West-German Heart and Vascular Center, University of Duisburg-Essen

    NOT_YET_RECRUITING

    Essen, 45147, Germany

    Contact

    Contact