Factors impacting complication rates for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation from 2003 to 2015

Abstract

Patient characteristics reflected in CHA2DS2VASc scoring and early institutional experience predict increased complication rates following AF ablation. Despite more patients with higher CHA2DS2VASc scores undergoing AF ablation, complication rates fell over time as institutional experience increased.

Temporal trends of in‐hospital complications associated with catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in the United States: An update from Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (2011–2014)

“…Annual hospital volume of AF ablation procedure was found to be an important predictor of complications in our study. Similar results were shown in previously published studies . These findings were consistent with the general observation that increased institutional experience is associated with better outcomes for various procedures …”

“…Similar studies have been performed in the past using large national patient database but combined complication rate in our study is lower than these studies, reflecting the effect of institutional experience. Our study also showed an increasing trend of complications related to AF ablation during study period as opposed to previously observed trends . This is a reflection of the fact that our study included a sicker pool of patients requiring hospitalization for AF ablation, as well as an increasing number of centers with variable experience and case volume are now performing the procedure.…”

Temporal trends in safety and complication rates of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

“…However, there are limited real-world contemporary data to support this. 8 Given the increasing scope and practice of AF catheter ablation, understanding the safety profile of the procedure is vital in creating guidelines and assisting patients and care providers with decisions. [5][6][7] Interestingly, a recent cohort study found that despite an observed reduction in complication rates, novel catheter technology, and DOACs were not associated with an appreciable improvement in safety.…”

Vascular complications in patients who underwent endovascular cardiac procedures: multicenter cohort study

“…Nevertheless, the rapid development of knowledge and wide availability of a technological arsenal in leading-edge hemodynamics laboratories, combined with the use of more powerful anticoagulation regimens, have impacted the occurrence of vascular complications in patients undergoing invasive cardiac procedures 2 , 10 . …”