Principal investigator

Dr. Rachel Dankner

Subinvestigators

Sheba Medical Center: Dr. Amir Shahar

Gertner Institute: Biostatistics Unit; Information and Computerization Unit

Objectives

To compare the outcomes of pharmaceutical treatment, electrical cardioversion and "watch and wait" treatment on the condition of patients with atrial fibrillation in the Emergency Medicine Department.

Type of study

Retrospective study to compare three clinical approaches to atrial fibrillation in the Emergency Medicine Department.

Method

Clinical information was gathered from the files of patients who were admitted to the Emergency Medicine Department of Sheba Medical Center with atrial fibrillation for an entire calendar year. Data was gathered about the course of treatment given to the patients from the time they were admitted to the hospital until they were discharged from the Emergency Medicine Department (sent home, transferred to the recovery room or admitted to the hospital). Patients were divided into three groups according to the treatment they received in the Emergency Department (electrical cardioversion, pharmaceutical or no cardioversion) and compared. 

Status

Data on 750 patients was collected on the research form. A computer file was prepared and statistical analysis run on the data. A scientific article was published in Cardiology (see below). Dr. Uri Agmon also submitted a thesis based on this study to the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University.

Dankner R, Shahar A, Novikov I, Agmon U, Ziv A, Hod H. Treatment of stable atrial fibrillation in the emergency department: a population-based comparison of electrical direct-current versus pharmacological cardioversion or conservative management. Cardiology.  009;112(4):270-8. Epub 2008 Sep 25. PubMed PMID: 18815445.

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