Study shows safety, effectiveness of cardiac electrophysiology procedures in ASCs

Editor's Note

This new multicenter study published by the Heart Rhythm Society on August 5 found that ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) offer a safe and effective setting for performing various cardiac electrophysiology procedures, including catheter ablation (CA). The research, which retrospectively analyzed 4,037 procedures, highlights the viability of ASCs as an alternative to hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs).

The study evaluated several procedures, such as transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), cardioversion, cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation, electrophysiology studies (EPS), and CA for conditions like atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter (AFL), supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), ventricular premature complexes (VPCs), and AV node issues. The majority of these procedures were CIED implants (36%) and CAs (44.1%), with over 80% of CAs addressing left-sided atrial arrhythmias requiring transseptal catheterization.

Importantly, the study found that adverse event rates in ASCs were low and comparable to those in HOPDs. For example, adverse events occurred in 0.76% of CIED procedures and 0.73% of CAs at ASCs, with similarly low rates of unplanned post-procedure hospitalizations (0.48% for CIED and 0.45% for CA). These rates were not significantly different from those in HOPDs, pointing to the safety of ASCs for these complex procedures.

The findings of this study suggest that ASCs can be a viable option for performing cardiac electrophysiology procedures, with the added benefits of efficiency and potentially lower costs. For more information on adding and developing a cardiovascular service line in ASCs, check out this OR Manager Q&A with Deb Yoder, MHA, BSN, RN, CNOR, former VP of clinical operations at Surgical Management Professionals and current VP of facility development at Compass Surgery Partners in South Dakota.