Same-Day Discharge in Ventricular Ablation: Safety Outcomes and Case Selection
Eric Xie1, Jody Viola1, Sydney Ness1
1Division of Cardiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology
|June 15, 2026
Summary
Same-day discharge (SDD) after catheter ablation (CA) for ventricular arrhythmias (VA) is safe and feasible, particularly for low-risk patients. This approach enables efficient patient management without compromising safety outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiac Electrophysiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Catheter ablation (CA) for ventricular arrhythmias (VA) traditionally requires overnight hospitalization.
- Limited data exists on the outcomes of same-day discharge (SDD) following VA ablation.
- No prior comparative studies have evaluated SDD in the context of VA ablation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the outcomes of same-day discharge (SDD) versus overnight stay after catheter ablation (CA) for ventricular arrhythmias (VA).
- To identify patient characteristics and procedural factors associated with successful SDD in VA ablation.
- To assess the safety and feasibility of SDD for VA ablation patients.
Main Methods:
- A single-center prospective comparative observational study.
- 255 consecutive patients undergoing elective CA for PVC or VT between April 2023 and June 2025.
- Exclusion of patients with planned admissions; SDD determined by physician discretion; routine telephone follow-up.
Main Results:
- 48% of patients (123/255) underwent SDD.
- SDD patients had higher ejection fraction (EF), less arterial access, and lower PAINESD scores compared to overnight stay patients.
- Low rates of major access site complications (1.6%) and other adverse events (0.8%) were observed within 30 days.
Conclusions:
- Same-day discharge (SDD) is a feasible and safe strategy for patients undergoing catheter ablation (CA) for premature ventricular contractions (PVCs).
- SDD may be suitable for a subset of patients undergoing ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation.
- Favorable characteristics for SDD include low-to-moderate risk patients, early procedure timing, use of closure devices, and dedicated nursing follow-up.
