2022 Quality Summit ePosters (Non-CE) - AFib Ablation Registry-1. Is Same Day Discharge After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation Safe? [Second Place ePoster Winner]

1. Is Same Day Discharge After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation Safe? [Second Place ePoster Winner]

Pdf Summary

This study aimed to assess the safety and impact of same day discharge (SDD) compared to next day discharge (NDD) after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). The COVID-19 pandemic had strained hospital capacity, leading to the modification of discharge protocols at Rush University Medical Center. <br /><br />Retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent elective AF ablations before and during the pandemic. Data regarding length of stay (LOS), procedural complications, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations within 30 days of discharge were collected for SDD and NDD patients. Procedural complications included AV fistula, pseudoaneurysm, hematoma, DVT, pericardial effusion, and CVA/TIA.<br /><br />It was found that implementing SDD did not significantly increase the complication rate, ED visits, or hospitalizations compared to NDD. However, SDD did significantly decrease the LOS. There was a statistically significant difference in mean LOS between SDD and NDD in the post-COVID cohort. Similarly, LOS was improved with NDD for patients who underwent AF ablation compared to the pre-COVID cohort.<br /><br />There were no statistically significant differences in complications, ED visits, or hospitalizations between SDD and NDD patients in both the post-COVID and pre-COVID periods. These findings suggest that SDD after catheter ablation for AF is safe and can be an effective strategy to reduce hospital burden and costs without compromising outcomes.<br /><br />The study concludes that modifying discharge protocols for AF ablation during the COVID-19 pandemic did not increase complications and significantly reduced LOS. Further research is needed to establish SDD as common practice for electrophysiology providers after routine AF ablations.<br /><br />Source: Akula DN, Mariam W, Saccheti A. Safety of Same Day Discharge after Atrial Fibrillation Ablation. J Atr Fibrillation. 2020;12(5):2150.

Keywords

same day discharge

next day discharge

catheter ablation

atrial fibrillation

COVID-19 pandemic

hospital capacity

discharge protocols

retrospective analysis

length of stay

procedural complications