Same-Day Discharge after Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure: Insights from the Nationwide Readmission...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Limited data exists on same-day discharge (SDD) feasibility after percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC).
• Assessing SDD safety and cost-effectiveness is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and feasibility of same-day discharge (SDD) following percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC).
• To compare 30-day readmission rates and hospitalization costs between SDD and next-day discharge (NDD) after LAAC.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the US Nationwide Readmission Database (2015-2019).
• Inclusion of 54,880 elective percutaneous left atrial appendage closure cases.
• Comparison of outcomes for SDD versus NDD, second-day discharge (ScD), and later discharges.

Main Results:

• 2% of patients (n=1077) were discharged on the same day (SDD).
• No significant difference in 30-day readmission rates between SDD and NDD (7.3% vs 7.4%, P=0.94).
• SDD was associated with significantly lower hospitalization costs compared to NDD ($22,963 vs $27,079, P≤0.01).

Conclusions:

• Same-day discharge following percutaneous LAAC is a safe and feasible option.
• SDD is linked to reduced hospitalization costs without compromising patient safety regarding readmissions.
• Further prospective research is recommended to confirm SDD safety and feasibility in LAAC procedures.