Catheter Ablation for Cardiac Arrhythmias: Utilization and In-Hospital Complications, 2000 to 2013

This study sought to investigate the utilization of and in-hospital complications in patients undergoing catheter ablation in the United States from 2000 to 2013 by using the National Inpatient Sample and Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Catheter ablation has become a mainstay in the treatment of a wide range of cardiac arrhythmias.

This study identified patients 18 years of age and older who underwent inpatient catheter ablation from 2000 to 2013 and had 1 primary diagnosis of any of the following arrhythmias: atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, or ventricular tachycardia.

An estimated total of 519,951 (95% confidence interval: 475,702 to 564,200) inpatient ablations were performed in the United States between 2000 and 2013. The median age was 62 years (interquartile range: 51 to 72 years), and 59.3% of the patients were male. The following parameters showed increasing trends during the study period: annual volume of ablations, number of hospitals performing ablations, mean age and comorbidity index of patients, rate of ≥1 complication, and length of stay (p < 0.001 for each). Substantial proportions (27.5%) of inpatient ablation procedures were performed in low-volume hospitals and were associated with an increased risk for complications (odds ratio: 1.26; 95% confidence interval: 1.12 to 1.42; p < 0.001). Older age, greater numbers of comorbidities, and complex ablations for atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia were independent predictors of in-hospital complications and in-hospital mortality. In addition, female sex and lower hospital volumes were independent predictors of complications.

From 2000 to 2013, there was a substantial increase in the annual number of in-hospital catheter ablation procedures, as well as the rate of periprocedural complications nationwide. Low-volume centers had a significantly higher rate of complications.