Flecainide versus Electrical Cardio Version in Patients with a Recent-Onset Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Introduction: Flecainide is a Class IA drug according the European Guidelines for conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation in patients without structural heart disease. Electrical Cardio version is the first line in many centers in all over the world in this population. Up to the present no study has been conducted comparing Flecainide with Electrical Cardio version (EC) for conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation. The goal of our study was to compare the conversion rate of recent-onset AF, hospital stay length and adverse events in hemodynamically stable patients without structural heart disease treated with flecainide or EC. Methods: 50 hemodynamically stable patients with recent onset AF without structural heart disease were included. 30 patients received oral loading dose of flecainide 300 mg and other 20 patients EC. Clinical and laboratory variables were recorded. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. The conversion rate was 70% in the flecainide group and 100 % in the EC group (p<0.01). Hospital stay length was 432 minutes and 263 minutes in EC (p<0.05).There were no adverse events in both groups. Conclusion: The conversion rate of recent-onset AF was lower and hospital stay length was shorter in EC group compared with flecainide group with significantly statistical differences. In both groups were no adverse events.