Arrhythmias & electrophysiology

Comparative analysis of anaesthesia modalities in pulmonary vein isolation: insights from a prospective multicentre registry

EuropacePublished Prospective cohort study

Authors' conclusion

Conscious sedation is as safe and effective as general anaesthesia in AF ablation, particularly with cryoablation. The choice of anaesthesia appears to be driven by patient characteristics and institutional factors without affecting long-term outcomes such as AF recurrence or complication rates.

Study context

Population
Patients undergoing Pulmonary Vein Isolation (PVI) for Atrial Fibrillation (AF), Israeli Catheter Ablation Registry, 14 centres, January 2019–December 2021Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) in 84%
Participants
1,002 patients
Exposure
Conscious sedation vs general anaesthesia for PVI
Outcome
AF recurrence, procedural complications and success rates
Follow-up
24-month follow-up
Methodological detailsmulticentre, registry-based, 14 centres
  • Multicentre
  • Registry-based
  • 14 centres

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

AF recurrence · 12 and 24 months

AF recurrence at 12 months

AF recurrence at 24 months

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

12-month rehospitalization

12-month rehospitalization

No significant difference

Complete PVI

Complete PVI achieved in 91% of patients; comparable success rates between conscious sedation (CS) and general anaesthesia (GA)

CBA subgroup (sensitivity analysis): AF recurrence, complications, procedural duration

No significant differences between CS and GA
  • Sensitivity analysis

Original publication

Comparative analysis of anaesthesia modalities in pulmonary vein isolation: insights from a prospective multicentre registry. Europace. Published 17 February 2025. doi:10.1093/europace/euae301

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