Safety and feasibility of cardiac electrophysiology procedures in ambulatory surgery centers.

Background: Despite their improved safety, by and large, cardiac electrophysiology procedures including catheter ablation (CA), are presently performed in hospital outpatient departments.

Objective: This large multicenter study investigated the safety and outcomes associated with various cardiac electrophysiology procedures performed at 6 ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), primarily during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hospitals Without Walls program.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes from consecutive electrophysiology procedures performed in ASCs with same-day discharge, including transesophageal echocardiography, cardioversion, cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation, electrophysiology studies, and CA for atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter (AFL)/supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular premature complexes (VPCs), and atrioventricular node.

Prospective study of zero-fluoroscopy laser balloon pulmonary vein isolation for the management of atrial fibrillation.

Background: In recent years, there has been increased focus on the development of safe and effective strategies to minimize and ultimately eliminate fluoroscopy use in the electrophysiology lab due to the inherent risks to patients and staff associated with this imaging source. However, studies examining these innovative fluoroless strategies for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using catheters without direct 3D mapping system integration are lacking. We sought to develop a method to perform zero-fluoroscopy laser balloon PVI for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and to test the safety and efficacy of this approach.

Feasibility and safety of laser balloon pulmonary vein isolation in patients with prior left atrial appendage occlusion device implantation.

Introduction: With the increasing adoption of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) procedures and the eligibility of patients for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) post device placement, we examined the feasibility and safety of laser balloon (LB) for PVI in patients with prior LAAO.

Methods: We retrospectively examined consecutive patients with paroxysmal or persistent, drug-resistant atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent LB PVI, after Watchman FLX device implantation at Rush University Medical Center between January 2020 and December 2021.

Results: Seven patients (four persistent and three paroxysmal) with a mean age of 64 ± 11 years, predominantly male sex (86%), were included in the study.