Pulmonary Vein Isolation: Patient Experience under Conscious Sedation versus Anaesthesia

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Radiofrequency pulmonary vein isolation is a standard treatment for atrial fibrillation.
• Patient anesthesia options include conscious sedation or general anesthesia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare patient experiences between conscious sedation and general anesthesia during radiofrequency pulmonary vein isolation.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, observational study compared patient experiences under general anesthesia versus conscious sedation.
• A Likert scale questionnaire assessed satisfaction with anesthesia modes.

Main Results:

• Patients under general anesthesia reported significantly less pain (mean score 1.33 vs. 2.90) and were more likely to recommend it (mean score 4.90 vs. 3.40).
• No significant differences were found in post-procedure anxiety/depression, recovery satisfaction, or overall procedure satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• General anesthesia leads to less peri-procedural pain during radiofrequency pulmonary vein isolation compared to conscious sedation.
• Patients are more likely to recommend general anesthesia for this procedure.