Compares two blood thinners after heart surgery in people with atrial fibrillation
Compares newer and standard blood thinners in adults with atrial fibrillation after heart surgery.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: The Direct Oral Anticoagulation versus Vitamin K Antagonist after Cardiac Surgery (DANCE) Trial
Key facts
- Where
- Bonn, Essen, Freiburg, Hamburg, Jena, and Leipzig, GermanySee the 6 sites
- Phase
- Phase 3
Where in Germany
- Universitaetsklinikum Bonn AöRBonn, GermanyTaking people
- Universitaetsklinikum Essen (AoR)Essen, GermanyTaking people
- UNIVERSITÄTSKLINIKUM FREIBURGFreiburg, GermanyTaking people
- University Medical Center Hamburg-EppendorfHamburg, GermanyTaking people
- University Hospital Jena KöRJena, GermanyTaking people
- Herzzentrum Leipzig GmbHLeipzig, GermanyTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
- Trial code
- NCT04284839EU 2023-504504-28-00
- Record updated
- 10 September 2026
- Original description
The objective in the vanguard phase of the DANCE trial is to assess the feasibility of conducting a large randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the safety of DOAC versus VKA after cardiac surgery in patients with AF requiring oral anticoagulation. The objectives in the full trial are to evaluate the safety of DOAC versus VKA after cardiac surgery in patients with AF requiring anticoagulation.Read full original descriptionShow less
The Direct Oral Anticoagulation versus Vitamin K Antagonist after Cardiac Surgery (DANCE) Trial
The objective in the vanguard phase of the DANCE trial is to assess the feasibility of conducting a large randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the safety of DOAC versus VKA after cardiac surgery in patients with AF requiring oral anticoagulation. The objectives in the full trial are to evaluate the safety of DOAC versus VKA after cardiac surgery in patients with AF requiring anticoagulation.
Inclusion: Age ≥18 years at the time of enrolment; Open heart surgery in the last 10 days; Atrial fibrillation requiring anticoagulation (including pre-existing or post-operative atrial fibrillation); Informed consent from either the patient or a substitute decision-maker.
Exclusion: Previously enrolled in this trial; History of moderate or severe rheumatic valvular lesion (stenosis or regurgitation) that is not corrected during index cardiac surgery; Antiphospholipid syndrome (triple positive); Known significant liver disease (Child-Pugh classification B and C); Ongoing bleeding, hemorrhagic disorders, or bleeding diathesis; Surgery including left ventricular assist device implantation or cardiac transplantation; Severe renal failure (Cockcroft-Gault equation; creatinine clearance <15 ml/min); Mechanical valve replacement; Follow-up not possible; Left ventricular thrombus; Known contraindication for any direct oral anticoagulant or vitamin K antagonist; Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or of childbearing potential.