loading page

Rebooting Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • +10
  • Chirag Barbhaiya,
  • Lalit Wadhwani,
  • Arun Manmadhan,
  • Ahmed Selim,
  • Robert Knotts,
  • Alexander Kushnir,
  • Michael Spinelli,
  • Lior Jankelson,
  • Scott Bernstein,
  • David Park,
  • Douglas Holmes,
  • Anthony Aizer,
  • Larry Chinitz
Chirag Barbhaiya
NYU Langone Health

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Lalit Wadhwani
NYU Langone Health
Author Profile
Arun Manmadhan
NYU Langone Health
Author Profile
Ahmed Selim
NYU Langone Health
Author Profile
Robert Knotts
NYU Langone Health
Author Profile
Alexander Kushnir
NYU Langone Health
Author Profile
Michael Spinelli
NYU Langone Health
Author Profile
Lior Jankelson
NYU Langone Health
Author Profile
Scott Bernstein
NYU Langone Health
Author Profile
David Park
NYU Langone Health
Author Profile
Douglas Holmes
NYU Langone Health
Author Profile
Anthony Aizer
NYU Langone Health
Author Profile
Larry Chinitz
New York University School of Medicine
Author Profile

Abstract

Background: Catheter ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation (AF) were significantly curtailed during the peak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to conserve healthcare resources and limit exposure. There is little data regarding peri-procedural outcomes of medical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. We enacted protocols to safely reboot AF ablation while limiting healthcare resource utilization. Objective: To evaluate acute and subacute outcomes of protocols instituted for reboot of AF ablation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Perioperative healthcare utilization and acute procedural outcomes were analyzed for consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation under COVID-19 protocols (2020 cohort; n=111) and compared to those of patients who underwent AF ablation during the same time period in 2019 (2019 cohort; n=200). Newly implemented practices included pre-operative COVID-19 testing, selective transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), utilization of venous closure, and same-day discharge when clinically appropriate. Results: Pre-ablation COVID-19 testing was positive in 1 of 111 patients. There were 0 cases ablation-related COVID-19 transmission, and 0 major complications in either cohort. Pre-procedure TEE was performed in significantly fewer 2020 cohort patients compared to the 2019 cohort patients (68.4% vs. 97.5%, p <0.001, respectively) despite greater prevalence of persistent arrhythmia in the 2020 cohort. Same day discharge was achieved in 68% of patients in the 2020 cohort, compared to 0% of patients in the 2019 cohort. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate safe resumption of complex electrophysiology procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing healthcare utilization and maintaining quality of care. Protocols instituted may be generalizable to other types of procedures and settings.
04 Feb 2021Published in Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology. 10.1007/s10840-021-00952-w