Catheter-based VT ablation has increased significantly in Australia over the last decade, consistent with worldwide trends, and now surpassing all ablation procedures, including AF ablation and PCI for CAD.
Female gender (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.35-1.95), CAD (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.08-1.71), peripheral vascular disease (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.07-1.98), acute renal failure (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.09-1.97), fluid and electrolyte disorders (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.03-1.67), chronic pulmonary disease (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.01-1.53), ablation on the day of admission (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.61-0.91), and fourth quartile of hospital AF catheter ablation volume (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.45-0.80) were independent predictors of 30-day readmission.
The evidence is limited.For all patients with AF and stable CAD (≥1 year after CS or ACS) the risk for thromboembolism, cardiovascular events and bleeding should be assessed individually.
Compared with no screening, screening for AF in Canadian family practice offices using pulse check or screen with a blood pressure machine with AF detection is the dominant strategy whereas screening with SL-ECG is a highly cost-effective strategy with an incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained of CAD$4788.