Thirty-Day Readmissions After Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: Insights from the Nationwide Readmissions...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) offers a non-drug alternative for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients unsuitable for oral anticoagulation.
• Data regarding 30-day readmission rates following LAAO procedures is limited, necessitating further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the rates and causes of 30-day readmissions after percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO).
• To identify independent predictors associated with 30-day readmission following LAAO procedures.

Main Methods:

• The Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) was utilized to identify patients undergoing LAAO from 2016 to 2018.
• Complex samples multivariable logistic regression models were employed to determine predictors of 30-day readmission.

Main Results:

• A total of 29,367 patients underwent LAAO, with a 30-day readmission rate of 9.2%.
• The primary causes for readmission were gastrointestinal bleeding (18.5%), heart failure (13.1%), and infection (7.3%).
• Independent predictors for readmission included female gender, heart failure, anemia, chronic lung disease, end-stage renal disease, acute kidney injury, and bleeding/transfusion events.

Conclusions:

• The overall 30-day readmission rate post-LAAO is 9.2%, with non-cardiac causes like gastrointestinal bleeding being most prevalent.
• Strategies to reduce in-hospital complications and optimize post-procedural antithrombotic regimens may be crucial for decreasing LAAO readmissions.