[Complications associated with catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Device Technology
• Public Health

Context:

• Catheter ablation is a crucial treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), with rising global procedure volumes.
• Real-world complication data is now available through International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes, supplementing earlier survey and single-center reports.
• Understanding complication trends and risk factors is vital for improving patient safety in AF ablation.

Purpose:

• To analyze the incidence and trends of acute complications associated with catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation using ICD code-based data.
• To identify specific types of complications and associated risk factors, including patient demographics and procedural experience.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of real-world complication rates in AF ablation.

Summary:

• The overall acute complication rate for catheter ablation in atrial fibrillation is 6.3%, showing a slight increase over the past decade.
• Cardiac complications are the most common, followed by vascular, respiratory, and neurological issues.
• Advanced age (over 80), female gender, and less experienced operators/hospitals are identified as risk factors for higher complication rates.

Impact:

• This analysis provides critical insights into the safety profile of contemporary catheter ablation for AF.
• Findings can inform clinical practice guidelines, patient selection, and training programs to mitigate risks.
• Real-world data on complications aids in setting benchmarks and driving quality improvement initiatives in electrophysiology.