Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Implementation and first outcomes of a novel standard operating procedure for preprocedural transoesophageal echocardiography screening in course of atrial arrhythmia ablation
Authors' conclusion
The number of preprocedural screening TEEs before AF ablation procedures can be safely reduced by applying risk stratification based on rhythm at admission and CHA2DS2-VASc score, if anticoagulation was performed properly.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing catheter ablation of left atrial (LA) arrhythmias, 2018–2022
- Participants
- 1,874 patients
- Exposure
- New standard operating procedure (SOP) for selective preprocedural transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) vs old SOP
- New SOPn = 937
- Outcome
- Number of performed TEEs and incidence of cerebrovascular events
Methodological detailsmatched cohort, consecutive patients, single-centre
- Matched cohort
- Consecutive patients
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
TEEs performed
Old SOP
933
events
New SOP
305
events
- Reduction in TEEs performed with new SOP
- 67%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Safety
Events
| Outcome | New SOP | Old SOP | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| TIANo significant difference | 3 | 5 | P = 0.48 |
Stroke
- No stroke events
Solid LA thrombi on TEE screening
- No solid thrombi detected
Original publication
Implementation and first outcomes of a novel standard operating procedure for preprocedural transoesophageal echocardiography screening in course of atrial arrhythmia ablation. Europace. Published 15 September 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →