Mednet Logo

What is your preferred choice of anticoagulant (VKA vs. DOAC) in patients with an LV thrombus and apical infarct? 

Would you extend length of time for anticoagulation if the apex remained akinetic on surveillance TTEs?
Community PollStarted

What is your preferred choice of anticoagulant in patients with an LV thrombus and apical infarct?

94 physicians have voted

Join Mednetto vote and see how they answered.

3 Answers
Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Cardiology · Langhorne Cardiology Consultants Inc
Answered on

Traditionally, warfarin is recommended. However, there has been recent evidence to suggest that DOACS are effective as well. In my practice, I have migrated to DOACS for ease of use. Many elderly patients are overwhelmed when they are discharged with 6 or 7 medications and add to that the complexity...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Cardiology · Ssm Health Heart And Vascular Care
Answered on

I have been using DOACs for years to treat LV thrombus. While there are no large RCTs comparing DOAC vs warfarin, there are numerous case-controlled, retrospective, etc trials comparing the 2 with similar efficacy. Not sure that you need an RCT to use a DOAC. Was there ever an RCT for warfarin for t...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer

Mednet Member
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Cardiology · Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
Answered on

In such patients, I would opt for a VKA as we have more experience with these agents than a DOAC in this setting. I would not extend the anticoagulation time if the thrombus resolved over time as shown by CMR, since it is not apical akinesis alone that is typically associated with a thrombus it is a...

Join for free or sign in to see the full answer