Day stay transcatheter radiofrequency ablation for supraventricular tachyarrhythmias

OBJECTIVE: To describe our initial experience with transcatheter radiofrequency ablation as a day stay procedure for patients with supraventricular tachyarrhythmias resulting from aberrant atrioventricular pathways. DESIGN: Prospective study of the first 50 patients at the Royal Perth Hospital whom we intended to treat and discharge on the same day. Patients underwent a combined electrophysiological study and radiofrequency ablation. RESULTS: Accessory pathways were identified in 32 patients (successfully ablated in 30) and dual atrioventricular nodal pathways in 18 patients (with successful ablation of the slow pathway in 17). Thirty-eight patients were discharged on the same day (24 treated for accessory pathways, and 14 treated for dual atrioventricular nodal pathways). There were no late complications or readmissions in patients discharged on the same day. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with supraventricular tachyarrhythmia, day stay transcatheter ablation can be planned without a definitive prior diagnosis of the physiological cause. Complications or other reasons for overnight admission are apparent at completion of the procedure.