Statement for electrophysiological procedures under the COVID-19 pandemic from the Japanese heart rhythm society task...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global health and economies.
• Heart rhythm disorders and their management have been affected by the pandemic.
• Electrophysiology (EP) procedures require new guidelines in the face of this global health crisis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish universal criteria for performing electrophysiology (EP) procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To provide guidance for EP practice in the current and post-pandemic era.
• To ensure patient safety and resource allocation for EP procedures.

Main Methods:

• Described methods for triaging patients undergoing EP procedures.
• Considered disease severity, regional pandemic status, and medical resource availability in triage.
• Developed a framework for EP procedure management during a pandemic.

Main Results:

• Established universal criteria for EP procedures in the new era of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Triage methods were defined based on critical factors influencing procedure safety and necessity.
• Guidance addresses the challenges posed by the pandemic to EP services.

Conclusions:

• The developed criteria serve as a universal standard for EP procedures during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Effective triage is essential for managing EP services amidst the pandemic.
• These guidelines aim to optimize patient care and resource utilization in electrophysiology.