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Updated: Jun 30, 2026
Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: February 26, 2013
Optimising the atrial fibrillation ablation pathway using vascular closure devices: effects on length of stay,
Miriam A Scheurwater1, Bianca de Louw2, Dennis van Veghel2
1Catharina Heart Centre, Catharina Hospital Eindhoven, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. miriam.d.jong@catharinaziekenhuis.nl.
Insights
Closure devices (CD) significantly improve atrial fibrillation ablation care pathways by reducing hospital stay and enhancing patient comfort. This leads to better workflow efficiency without increasing complications.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Devices
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Increasing prevalence of atrial fibrillation necessitates optimization of pulmonary vein isolation procedures.
- Efficient care pathways are crucial for sustainable healthcare delivery in electrophysiology.
- This study evaluates the impact of closure devices (CD) on atrial fibrillation ablation care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of suture-mediated closure devices (CD) on hospital stay duration.
- To evaluate the impact of CD on patient satisfaction and experience post-ablation.
- To analyze the influence of CD on staff workload and healthcare costs.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of standard manual compression (MC) pathway with a modified pathway using suture-mediated CD.
- Inclusion of process indicators (hospitalization duration), clinical outcomes (complications), and patient experience metrics.
- Assessment of staff experience via questionnaires and analysis of healthcare costs.
Main Results:
- Closure devices reduced hospitalization duration by 3.7 hours and bed rest by 4 hours (p < .001).
- Patients reported significantly less pain (median 3 vs 1, p = .001) and higher discharge comfort (p = .009) with CD.
- Procedure time for first-time ablations was reduced by 10 minutes (p = .006); complication rates were similar, and costs were comparable.
Conclusions:
- Closure devices enhance atrial fibrillation ablation care pathways by shortening hospital stays and improving patient comfort.
- Implementation of CD leads to improved workflow efficiency for healthcare staff.
- Suture-mediated closure devices offer a safe and effective alternative to manual compression post-ablation.
Background:
The rising prevalence of atrial fibrillation has led to increasing the numbers of pulmonary vein isolations. Optimising care pathway efficiency is essential for sustainable healthcare delivery. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of closure devices (CD) within the care pathway on hospital stay, patient satisfaction, staff workload, and costs, following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.
Methods:
This study compared the standard care pathway following catheter ablation using manual compression (MC, December 2023-February 2024) to a modified pathway incorporating suture-mediated CD (March-May 2024). Primary outcomes included process indicators (e.g., hospitalisation duration), clinical outcomes (e.g., bleeding complications), and patient experience. Secondary outcomes included staff experience and healthcare costs associated with procedural changes.
Results:
A total of 159 patients participated (MC: 81 patients, CD: 78 patients). Patients received an average of 2 percutaneous sutures. Treatment with CDs resulted in a 3.7-hour reduction in hospitalisation duration (p <. 001), 10-minute shorter procedure time in first-time ablations (p = .006), and 4‑hour shorter bed rest (p <. 001). Patients experienced less pain, measured using the Numeric Rating Scale (median 3 vs 1, p = .001), and used less pain medication (p = .006). Discharge comfort was higher in the CD group (p = .009), while complication rates remained similar. 24 nurses participated in the questionnaire. Most nurses reported improved time efficiency and workday organisation. Costs were similar across groups.
Conclusion:
CDs improve care pathways after atrial fibrillation ablation by reducing hospitalisation time, enhancing patient comfort, and improving workflow efficiency without increasing complications.
