Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 27, 2025
Non-fluoroscopic Catheter Tracking for Fluoroscopy Reduction in Interventional Electrophysiology
Published on: May 26, 2015
Same-day discharge for atrial fibrillation ablation: outcomes and impact of ablation modality
Marc W Deyell1,2, Kurt Hoskin1, Jacqueline Forman3
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, #200-1033 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6E 1M7.
Insights
Same-day discharge is common for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation patients. However, healthcare utilization, including ER visits, remains high regardless of discharge timing or ablation method.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Same-day discharge is increasingly adopted for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF).
- Uncertainty exists regarding the impact of same-day discharge on post-ablation healthcare utilization and its variation by ablation modality (radiofrequency vs. cryoballoon).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and healthcare utilization associated with a same-day discharge protocol for AF ablation.
- To compare outcomes between radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon ablation modalities within this protocol.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 421 consecutive AF ablation patients (2018-2019) with available healthcare utilization data.
- Same-day discharge was the default strategy; outcomes included discharge rates, readmissions, emergency room (ER) visits, and complications within 30 days.
- Comparison of outcomes based on ablation modality (RF vs. cryoballoon) and discharge strategy (same-day vs. overnight admission).
Main Results:
- 90.5% of patients were discharged on the same day, with no significant difference between RF and cryoballoon ablation (89.8% vs. 95.1%).
- 30-day readmission was 4.8% and ER visits were 26.1%, with no significant difference between ablation modalities.
- Overnight admission was associated with higher ER visit rates (40.0% vs. 24.7%) compared to same-day discharge.
- Overall post-discharge complication rate was low (1.0%) with no significant differences based on modality or discharge strategy.
Conclusions:
- A majority of patients undergoing RF or cryoballoon ablation for AF can be safely discharged on the same day.
- Healthcare utilization, particularly ER visits, remains substantial post-ablation, irrespective of the ablation modality or same-day discharge strategy.
Aims:
Same-day discharge is increasingly common after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the impact of same-day discharge on healthcare utilization after ablation and whether this differs by ablation modality remains uncertain. We examined the safety, efficacy, and subsequent healthcare utilization of a same-day discharge protocol for AF ablation, including radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon ablation, in a contemporary cohort.
Methods And Results:
All consecutive patients for whom full healthcare utilization data were available at two centres and who underwent AF ablation from 2018 to 2019 were included. Same-day discharge was the default strategy for all patients. The efficacy and safety outcomes were proportions of same-day discharge and readmission/emergency room (ER) visits, and post-discharge complications, respectively. Of the 421 patients who underwent AF ablation (mean 63.3 ± 10.2 years, 33% female), 90.5% (381/421) achieved same-day discharge with no difference between RF and cryoballoon ablation (89.8 vs. 95.1%, adjusted P = 0.327). Readmission ≤30 days occurred in 4.8%, with ER visits ≤30 days seen in 26.1% with no difference between ablation modalities (P = 0.634). Patients admitted overnight were more likely to present to the ER (40.0 vs. 24.7% with same-day discharge, P = 0.036). The overall post-discharge complication rate was low at 4/421 (1.0%), with no difference between ablation modality (P = 0.324) and admission/same-day discharge (P = 0.485).
Conclusion:
Same-day discharge can be achieved in a majority of patients undergoing RF or cryoballoon ablation for AF. Healthcare utilization, particularly ER visits, remains high after AF ablation, regardless of ablation modality or same-day discharge.
