Current Safety of Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation: First Experience of Same Day Discharge

Micro-Costing Analysis for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation: An Economic Evaluation of the First Italian Experience of Same-Day Discharge Protocol for Cryoballoon Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and its prevalence is expected to increase further due to the aging population, increasing prevalence of risk factors, improving detection methods, and broadening of catheter ablation indications. Along with limited healthcare resources and bed availability, these reasons led to the development of a same-day discharge (SDD) protocol. The aim of this study was to evaluate the health and economic impact of a routine adoption of same-day discharge after cryoballoon AF ablation. Methods: Consecutive patients with symptomatic and drug-refractory AF scheduled for first-time AF ablation were screened, and if deemed suitable, the SDD protocol was proposed and, if accepted, enrolled in the protocol. Results: A total of 324 patients were screened, and 118 were considered eligible for the SDD pathway. Fifty-two patients accepted the SDD pathway and were included in this study. The analysis showed that the variation in resource consumption associated with cryoablation in SDD is equal to EUR 739.85/patient. The analysis showed that the main cost driver for ordinary hospitalization was represented by the hospital stay, which was calculated to be 36% of the total cost. In total, there was a cost reduction of EUR 38.472 thanks to optimized AF patient management from the standard recovery setting to SDD. Conclusions: SDD after cryoballoon ablation of AF is feasible in selected patients with a standardized protocol.

Safety of same-day discharge without anticoagulation for left-sided radiofrequency catheter ablations in pediatrics

BACKGROUND

For left-sided radiofrequency catheter ablation (LCA) in pediatrics, significant practice variability exists regarding anticoagulation and discharge practices. Given the lack of data in pediatric patients, the risks and benefits of these practices are not well defined.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of same-day discharge and use of aspirin (ASA) in pediatric patients following LCA.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients who underwent LCA from 2010 to 2020 at our institution. Discharge timing and ASA usage were based on operator preference. The primary outcome was incidence of postablation anticoagulation complications reported within 1 month of the procedure.

RESULTS

Three hundred seventy-six patients underwent LCA and met inclusion criteria. Median [25th, 75th percentiles] age was 13.9 [10.5, 16.2] years; 18 (4.7%) had a history of structural heart disease. The most common substrates for ablation were Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (183 patients [48.7%]), concealed accessory pathway (159 patients [42.3%]), and ectopic atrial tachycardia (10 patients [2.7%]). Three hundred thirty-eight patients (89.9%) were discharged on the day of LCA. Seventy-six patients (20.2%) were prescribed ASA at discharge. Of those who underwent follow-up (273 patients [72.6%]), 7 (2.7%) reported an anticoagulation complication (5 with hematoma, 2 with headache). One of these patients was prescribed ASA; none required readmission. There was no correlation between anticoagulation complications and same-day discharge or with ASA usage.

CONCLUSION

Given the rare incidence of anticoagulation complications in pediatric patients undergoing LCAs, same-day discharge from the electrophysiology laboratory without anticoagulation should be considered.

Ablation of atrial fibrillation in an ambulatory outpatient setting

Background

The safety of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in an ambulatory outpatient center has not previously been reported.

Objective

The aim of this study is to report the feasibility and safety of AF ablation in an ambulatory setting.

Methods

We identified all AF ablations performed at the Alaska Heart and Vascular Institute's ambulatory center since program initiation to current day using billing records. Procedural complications, postoperative utilization of hospital services, and emergency room (ER) utilization were captured by chart review.

Results

A total of 476 patients underwent pulmonary vein isolation in the ambulatory setting over a 6.3-year period. Patients' average age was 58 ± 9.3 years, body mass index was 32.9 kg/m2, and the CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes mellitus, prior stroke or transient ischemic attack or thromboembolism, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, sex category) score was 1.7. For 85%, this was the first AF ablation, and 55% had paroxysmal AF. Cryoablation was used in 85%. A combined primary safety outcome capturing potentially unstable perioperative safety events occurred in 1.5% of patients, all of whom were stabilized prior to hospital transfer. A total of 1.5% of patients required same-day hospital services, with another 1.5% returning to the ER within 24 hours. A total of 96% of patients did not require hospital services within 24 hours of ablation. The 30-day ER utilization was 13.7%, similar to published data of same-day discharge of AF ablation done in the hospital setting. There were no emergent cardiac surgical interventions and no mortality events.

Conclusion

Catheter ablation for AF in the ambulatory setting is both feasible and safe in this large single-center experience. More studies are needed to confirm this next frontier in catheter ablation for AF.

Performance of the REAL-AF Same-Day Discharge Protocol in Patients Undergoing Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

BACKGROUND

Same-day discharge (SDD) after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been widely adopted. Nevertheless, planned SDD has been performed by using subjective criteria rather than standardized protocols.

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of the previously described SDD protocol in a prospective multicenter study.

METHODS

Using the REAL-AF (Real-world Experience of Catheter Ablation for the Treatment of Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation) SDD protocol eligibility criteria (stable anticoagulation, no bleeding history, left ventricular ejection fraction >40%, no pulmonary disease, no procedures within 60 days, and body mass index <35 kg/m2), operators prospectively determined whether patients undergoing ablation of AF were candidates for SDD (SDD vs non-SDD groups). Successful SDD was achieved if the patient met the protocol discharge criteria. The primary efficacy endpoint was the success rate of SDD. The primary safety endpoints were readmission rates as well as acute and subacute complications. The secondary endpoints included procedural characteristics and freedom from all-atrial arrhythmias.

RESULTS

A total of 2,332 patients were included. The REAL-AF SDD protocol identified 1,982 (85%) patients as potential candidates for SDD. The primary efficacy endpoint was achieved in 1,707 (86.1%) patients. The readmission rate for SDD vs non-SDD group was similar (0.8% vs 0.9%; P = 0.924). The SDD group had a lower acute complication rate than the non-SDD group (0.8% vs 2.9%; P < 0.001), and there was no difference in the subacute complication rate between groups (P = 0.513). Freedom from all-atrial arrhythmias was comparable between groups (P = 0.212).

CONCLUSIONS

In this large, multicenter prospective registry, the use of a standardized protocol showed the safety of SDD after catheter ablation of paroxysmal and persistent AF. (Real-world Experience of Catheter Ablation for the Treatment of Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation [REAL-AF]; NCT04088071).

Safety and feasibility of same-day discharge for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Most centers performing catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) admit the patients for an overnight hospital stay to monitor for post-procedure complications, but the clinical benefits of this overnight hospital admission policy have not been carefully investigated. We hypothesized that same-day discharge strategy is safe and feasible in patients with AF undergoing CA.

METHODS

A systematic review of studies comparing the safety of same-day discharge vs hospital admission for AF patients undergoing CA was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. No randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria; therefore, observational cohort studies were included. Mantel-Haenszel risk ratios were calculated and I² statistics were reported for heterogeneity assessment.

RESULTS

A total of 8 observational studies with 10,102 patients were included. There were no statistically significant differences between same-day discharge vs hospital admission in all studied outcomes including post-discharge 30-day hospital visits (RR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.40-2.02; p = 0.81), post-discharge vascular/bleeding complications (RR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.46-1.88; p = 0.85), post-discharge stroke/transient ischemic attack/thromboembolism (RR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.23-2.20; p = 0.55), and post-discharge recurrent arrhythmias (RR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.60-1.09; p = 0.1).

CONCLUSION

In carefully selected AF patients undergoing CA, same-day discharge strategy is feasible and safe. There are no significant differences in post-discharge 30-day hospital visits, post-discharge vascular complications, and other safety outcomes. Randomized trials are needed to validate these hypothesis-generating findings.

Same-day discharge for atrial fibrillation ablation: outcomes and impact of ablation modality

AIMS

Same-day discharge is increasingly common after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the impact of same-day discharge on healthcare utilization after ablation and whether this differs by ablation modality remains uncertain. We examined the safety, efficacy, and subsequent healthcare utilization of a same-day discharge protocol for AF ablation, including radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon ablation, in a contemporary cohort.

METHODS AND RESULTS

All consecutive patients for whom full healthcare utilization data were available at two centres and who underwent AF ablation from 2018 to 2019 were included. Same-day discharge was the default strategy for all patients. The efficacy and safety outcomes were proportions of same-day discharge and readmission/emergency room (ER) visits, and post-discharge complications, respectively. Of the 421 patients who underwent AF ablation (mean 63.3 ± 10.2 years, 33% female), 90.5% (381/421) achieved same-day discharge with no difference between RF and cryoballoon ablation (89.8 vs. 95.1%, adjusted P = 0.327). Readmission ≤30 days occurred in 4.8%, with ER visits ≤30 days seen in 26.1% with no difference between ablation modalities (P = 0.634). Patients admitted overnight were more likely to present to the ER (40.0 vs. 24.7% with same-day discharge, P = 0.036). The overall post-discharge complication rate was low at 4/421 (1.0%), with no difference between ablation modality (P = 0.324) and admission/same-day discharge (P = 0.485).

CONCLUSION

Same-day discharge can be achieved in a majority of patients undergoing RF or cryoballoon ablation for AF. Healthcare utilization, particularly ER visits, remains high after AF ablation, regardless of ablation modality or same-day discharge.

Efficacy and safety of same-day discharge after atrial fibrillation ablation compared with post-procedural overnight stay: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) has historically required inpatient admission post-procedure, but same-day discharge (SDD) has recently been reported. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of SDD compared with overnight stay (OS) post-ablation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed a systematic search of the PubMed database. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy (successful SDD) and safety (24 h complications, 30-day complications, 30-day re-admissions, and 30-day mortality) of a SDD AF ablation strategy. Fourteen non-randomized observational studies met criteria for inclusion, encompassing 26488 patients undergoing AF ablation, of whom 9766 were SDD. The mean age of participants was 61.9 years, and 67.9% were male. Around 61.7% underwent ablation for paroxysmal AF. The pooled success rate of SDD was 83.2% [95% confidence intervals (CIs): 61.5-97.0%, I2 100%]. The risk of bias was severe for all effect estimates due to confounding, as most cohorts were retrospectively identified without appropriately matched comparators. There was no significant difference in 30-day complications [odds ratio (OR): 0.95, 95% CI: 0.65-1.40, I2 53%] or 30-day re-admission (OR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.49-1.89, I2 82%) between groups. There were insufficient data for meta-analysis of 24 h complications and 30-day mortality. Where reported, no re-admissions occurred due to 24 h complications after SDD. Two deaths (0.04%) were reported in both SDD and OS groups.

CONCLUSION

Same-day discharge after AF ablation appears to be an effective and safe strategy in selected patients. However, the available evidence is of low quality, and more robust prospective studies comparing SDD to OS are needed.

Safety and feasibility of same-day discharge following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: what is known and what needs to be explored?

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most effective rhythm control strategy and its role in the treatment of AF patients has been strengthened by recent guidelines. An increasing AF prevalence and the resulting demands on interventional electrophysiology call for improved resource allocation through both technical innovations and streamlined workflows and patient pathways. Same-day discharge is already established in the context of other electrophysiological interventions; however, its broad implementation in the practice of AF ablation is pending for several reasons, despite the fact that the body of evidence is growing and the majority of reports propagate early discharge to be feasible and safe under certain conditions. This review article is intended to provide an overview of the existing data, classify these into the specific study context, and to show limitations and open questions.

Same Day versus Overnight Discharge in Patients Undergoing Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation (SODA) Study

Patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) are routinely admitted for observation overnight in the hospital. With the rising incidence of AF among the population, increased volumes of procedures are placing increased demands on hospital resources. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of same day discharge in patients undergoing ablation for AF when compared to patients admitted for overnight observation. We performed a retrospective analysis using a multicenter cohort among patients who were discharged home after elective pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation for AF. In our analysis, we found no statistically significant difference between patients discharged on the day of their procedure when compared to patients admitted for overnight observation in terms of 90-day readmission, major adverse cardiovascular events and death. This study shows that same day discharge after AF ablation is a feasible option. Future studies are needed to elicit the appropriate protocol to use.

Same-Day Versus Next-Day Discharge Strategies for Left Atrial Ablation Procedures: A Parallel, Intra-Institutional Comparison of Safety and Feasibility

Background

Head-to-head comparative data for the postoperative care of patients undergoing left atrial ablation procedures are lacking.

Objective

We sought to investigate complication and readmission rates between patients undergoing same-day (SD) or next-day (ND) discharges for ablative procedures in the left atrium, primarily atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

Two electrophysiology centers simultaneously perform left atrial ablations with differing discharge strategies. We identified all patients who underwent left atrial ablation from August 2017 to August 2019 (n = 409) undergoing either SD (n = 210) or ND (n = 199) discharge protocols. We analyzed any clinical events that resulted in procedural abortion, extended hospitalization, or readmission within 72 hours.

Results

The primary endpoint of complication and readmission rate was similar between SD and ND discharge (14.3% vs 12.6%, p = 0.665). Rates of complications categorized as major (2.4% vs 3.0%, p = 0. 776) and minor (11.9% vs 9.5%, p = 0.524) were also similar.Multivariable regression modeling revealed no significant correlation between discharge strategy and complication/readmission occurrence (OR 1.565 [0.754 - 3.248], p = 0.23), but a positive association of hypertension and procedure duration (OR 3.428 [1.436 - 8.184], p = 0.006) and (OR 1.01 [1 - 1.019], p = 0.046) respectively.

Conclusions

Left atrial ablation complication and readmission rates were similar between SD and ND discharge practices. Hypertension and procedural duration were associated with increased complication rates irrespective of discharge strategy. These data, which represent the first side-by-side comparison of discharge strategy, suggests same-day discharge is safe and feasible for left atrial ablation procedures.

The 30-day readmission rate of same-day discharge protocol following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: a propensity score-matched analysis from National Readmission Database

AIMS

The effectiveness and safety of same-day discharge (SDD) for catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been fully elucidated using a large nationwide database. This study aimed to evaluate the all-cause readmission rates within 30-days among patients receiving CA for AF with an SDD protocol compared with a conventional overnight stay (ONS).

METHODS AND RESULTS

We performed a retrospective cohort study using the US Nationwide Readmission Database. The primary outcome was all-cause 30-day readmission following discharge in patients receiving CA and a secondary outcome was requiring total healthcare cost. A 1 : 3 propensity score matching was conducted to compare the safety and efficacy within both SDD and ONS group. Among 30 776 patients [mean 67.2 ± 11.4 years, 12 590 female (41.5%)] who received CA from 2016 through 2018, 440 (1.42%) patients were discharged on the same-day following CA (SDD group), and the remaining 30 336 patients stayed at least one night in the hospital (ONS group). A propensity score analysis generated 1751 matched pairs (440 in the SDD group; 1311 in the ONS group). The 30-day readmission following discharge was not significantly higher in the SDD group than the ONS group (SDD vs. ONS: 12.7% vs. 9.7%; hazard ratio: 1.17, 95% confidence interval: 0.76-1.81, P = 0.47). Healthcare cost was significantly higher in the ONS group ($25 237 ± 14 036 vs. $30 749 ± 16 383; P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

In this nationwide database study, there was no significant difference in the all-cause 30-day readmission following SDD for CA compared with ONS.

Comparison between same-day discharge and overnight stay after atrial fibrillation ablation: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

In the modern era, atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation trend has been shifted toward same-day discharge (SDD), from a traditional overnight stay. Yet, recent studies have not well stated the safety profiles which remained poor-understood and dispersed. We hence performed systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the adverse outcomes of SDD in comparison with an overnight stay.

METHODS

Databases were searched through January 2021. Effect estimates from the individual studies were extracted and combined using random-effects, generic inverse variance method of der Simonian and Laird. The primary outcomes included total cumulative complications and immediate complications following AF ablation.

RESULTS

Ten observational studies were met our inclusion criteria, comprising of total population of 11,660 patients, with SDD 51.3%. For total cumulative complications, there were no differences observed between SDD and overnight stay (5.2% vs. 6.2%: pooled OR 0.77: 95% CI 0.55-1.08, p = .13 with I²  = 27.1%). In addition, comparable immediate complications were also demonstrated (5.2 % vs. 4.3: pooled OR 1.08: 95% CI 0.72-1.62, p = .718, with I²  = 37.3 %).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggested that SDD had similar complication rates, both total cumulative and immediate outcomes, compared with overnight stay in selected patients following AF ablation. Nevertheless, randomized control trials are warranted to validate the findings.

Evaluating outcomes of same-day discharge after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in a real-world cohort

Background

As same-day discharge (SDD) after catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasingly utilized, it is important to further investigate this approach.

Objective

To investigate the safety and efficacy of SDD after CA for AF in a large nationwide administrative sample.

Methods

The IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database was used to identify adult patients under 65 years undergoing CA for AF (2016-2020). Eligible patients were indexed to date of first CA and classified into SDD or overnight stay (ONS) groups based on length of service. A 1:3 propensity score matching was used to create comparable SDD:ONS samples. Study outcomes were CA-related complications within 30 days after index procedure and AF recurrence within 1 year. Cox proportional hazards models were estimated for outcome comparison.

Results

In the postmatch 30-day cohort, there were 1610 SDD and 4637 ONS patients with mean age 56.1 (± 7.6) years. There was no significant difference in composite 30-day postprocedural complication rate between SDD and ONS groups (2.7% vs 2.8%, respectively; P = .884). The most common complications were cerebrovascular events (0.7% vs 0.7%; P = .948), vascular access events (0.6% vs 0.6%; P = .935), and pericardial complications (0.6% vs 0.5%; P = .921). Further, no significant difference in composite AF recurrence rate at 1 year was observed among SDD and ONS groups (10.2% vs 8.8%; hazard ratio = 1.167; 95% confidence interval 0.935-1.455; P = .172).

Conclusion

In a large, propensity-matched, real-world sample, SDD appears to be safe and have similar outcomes compared with overnight observation following CA for AF.

Same-day discharge after catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation in a large nationwide administrative claims database

BACKGROUND

Catheter ablation (CA) is a common treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). This study evaluated outcomes of same day discharge (SDD) versus overnight stay (ONS) among AF patients undergoing outpatient CA.

METHODS

The Optum SES Clinformatics Extended Data Mart database was used to identify patients ≥18 years of age undergoing outpatient CA for AF (2016-2020). Eligible patients were indexed to the date of first CA and classified into SDD and ONS groups based on the length of service. A 1:3 propensity score matching was used to create comparable SDD:ONS samples. The primary safety outcome was CA-related complications within 30 days of index procedure. The primary efficacy outcome was AF recurrence within 1 year. Cox proportional hazards models were estimated for outcome comparison.

RESULTS

In the postmatch 30-day cohort for safety evaluation, there were 6600 patients (1660 [25.2%] SDD; 4940 [74.8%] ONS), with a mean age of 66.6 years. There was no significant difference in the 30-day composite rate of postablation complications (4.7% [78/1660] vs. 3.8% [187/4940]; p = 0.100) and 1-year composite rate of AF recurrence (14.3% [142/996] vs. 14.5% [430/2972]; p = 0.705) between the SDD and ONS groups.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that SDD following CA to treat patients with AF is safe, with low rates of postablation complications and AF recurrence, which were comparable to rates in patients with an ONS after CA.

Utilization and perception of same-day discharge in electrophysiological procedures and device implantations: an EHRA survey

The aim of this European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) survey was to assess the utilization of same-day discharge (SDD) in electrophysiology (EP). An online-based questionnaire was shared with the EHRA community between 12 and 30 June 2020 and recorded institutional information, complication assessment, recent experiences, and opinions regarding possible advantages or concerns with SDD. In total, 218 responses from 49 countries provided information on current SDD management. Overall, SDD was implemented in 77.5%, whereas this proportion was significantly higher in tertiary and high-volume centres (83.8% and 85.3%, both P < 0.01). The concept of SDD was most commonly used following implantations of cardiac event recorders (97%), diagnostic EP procedures (72.2%), and implantations of pacemakers with one or two intracardiac leads (50%), while the lowest SDD utilization was observed after catheter ablations of left atrial or ventricular arrhythmias. Within SDD-experienced centres, ∼90% respondents stated that this discharge concept is recommendable or highly recommendable and reported that rates of increased rehospitalization and complication rates were low. Most respondents assumed a better utilization of hospital resources (78.2%), better cost effectiveness (77.3%), and an improved patients' comfort but were concerned about possible impairment of detection (72.5%) and management (78.7%) of late complications. In conclusion, >75% of respondents already implement SDD following EP interventions with a large heterogeneity with regard to specific procedures. Further research is needed to confirm or disprove existing and expected benefits and obstacles.

Safety and feasibility of same-day discharge in patients receiving pulmonary vein isolation-systematic review and a meta-analysis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a same-day discharge protocol following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

METHODS

PubMed and Embase were systematically investigated from the inception to 20 July 2020. Studies on safety and feasibility of PVI for atrial fibrillation (AF) were included. Study-specific estimates were combined using one-group meta-analysis with a random-effects model.

RESULTS

Seven observational studies investigating the safety and feasibility of same-day discharge protocols were identified. Of a total of 3656 patients who have undergone PVI for AF, the overall complication rate was 0.80% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.20-1.40%). The readmission within 30-day following same-day discharge protocol occurred at a pooled rate of 3.6% (95% CI, 0.0-8.4%). Frequent complications following the procedure were complications related to vascular access (0.38%; 95% CI, 0.18-0.58%), and phrenic nerve injury (0.19%; 95% CI, 0.05-0.33%). The reported complications in SDD group were mainly based on results among patients without perioperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

The introduction of same-day discharge strategies might be safe and feasible in selected patients given the reported complication and re-admission rates in the current practice. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Rebooting atrial fibrillation ablation in the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose

Catheter ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation (AF) were significantly curtailed during the peak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to conserve healthcare resources and limit exposure. There is little data regarding peri-procedural outcomes of medical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. We enacted protocols to safely reboot AF ablation while limiting healthcare resource utilization. We aimed to evaluate acute and subacute outcomes of protocols instituted for reboot of AF ablation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Perioperative healthcare utilization and acute procedural outcomes were analyzed for consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation under COVID-19 protocols (2020 cohort; n=111) and compared to those of patients who underwent AF ablation during the same time period in 2019 (2019 cohort; n=200). Newly implemented practices included preoperative COVID-19 testing, selective transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), utilization of venous closure, and same-day discharge when clinically appropriate.

Results

Pre-ablation COVID-19 testing was positive in 1 of 111 patients. There were 0 cases ablation-related COVID-19 transmission and 0 major complications in either cohort. Pre-procedure TEE was performed in significantly fewer 2020 cohort patients compared to the 2019 cohort patients (68.4% vs. 97.5%, p <0.001, respectively) despite greater prevalence of persistent arrhythmia in the 2020 cohort. Same-day discharge was achieved in 68% of patients in the 2020 cohort, compared to 0% of patients in the 2019 cohort.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of safe resumption of complex electrophysiology procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing healthcare utilization and maintaining quality of care. Protocols instituted may be generalizable to other types of procedures and settings.

Graphical abstract

Same-day discharge after cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation: A multicenter experience

BACKGROUND

It is common practice to observe patients during an overnight stay (ONS) following a catheter ablation procedure for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF).

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the safety and economic impact of a same-day discharge (SDD) protocol after cryoballoon ablation for treatment of AF in high-volume, geographically diverse US hospitals.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 2374 consecutive patients (1119 SDD and 1180 ONS) who underwent cryoballoon ablation for AF at three US centers. Baseline characteristics, acute procedure-related complications, and longer-term evaluations of safety were recorded during routine clinical follow-up. The mean cost of an ONS was used in a one-way sensitivity analysis to evaluate yearly cost savings as a function of the percentage of SDD cases per year.

RESULTS

The SDD and ONS cohorts were predominately male (69% vs. 67%; p = .3), but SDD patients were younger (64 ± 11 vs. 66 ± 10; p < .0001) with lower body mass index (30 ± 6 vs. 31 ± 61; p < .0001) and CHA₂ DS₂ -VASc scores (1.4 ± 1.0 vs. 2.2 ± 1.4; p < .0002). There was no difference between SDD and ONS in the 30-day total complication rate (n = 15 [1.26%] versus n = 24 [2.03%]; p = .136, respectively). The most common complication was hematoma in both the SDD (n = 8; 0.67%) and ONS (n = 11; 0.93%) cohorts. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that when 50% of every 100 patients treated were discharged the same day, hospital cost savings ranged from $45 825 to $83 813 per year across US hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

SDD following cryoballoon ablation for AF appears to be safe and is associated with cost savings across different US hospitals.

Prospective implementation of a same-day discharge protocol for catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

PURPOSE

Overnight stays associated with catheter ablation (CA) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) account for a significant proportion of treatment cost. Same-day discharge (SDD) after CA may be attractive to both patients and hospitals, especially in light of current restrictions on overnight stays due to COVID-19. This study reports on the selection criteria, protocol, and safety of SDD after CA of PAF.

METHODS

Patients undergoing CA for PAF were evaluated to assess the risk of groin, respiratory, cardiac, or bleeding complications. SDD eligibility criteria were stable anticoagulation with no bleeding history, systolic heart failure, respiratory conditions, or interventional procedures within 60 days, and recommended BMI < 35. Patient proximity to the hospital was also considered. Anesthesia with propofol was used, and ablations were performed with a contact force catheter. Patients rested for 6 h post-procedure and then ambulated over 1-2 h. Discharge followed if they were stable without evidence of complications. A nurse called all patients the following morning to elicit evidence of complications.

RESULTS

Of 44 planned SDD procedures between April 2017 and June 2018, 41 resulted in SDD after 7.2 ± 1.0 h, 2 patients stayed overnight for observation, and one by choice. Average age was 59 ± 10 years with CHA₂DS₂-VASc of 1.6 ± 1.1. No SDD-related complications occurred, and no return visits resulted from the follow-up calls.

CONCLUSION

Appropriate low-risk patients identified by well-defined clinical criteria can be safely discharged the same day after CA for PAF. Evaluation in a larger population across different centers is required for generalizability of this SDD protocol.