Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Vascular access site management during electrophysiology procedures: a European Heart Rhythm Association survey
Authors' conclusion
This survey highlights marked variation in vascular access site management during and following EP procedures
Study context
- Population
- Electrophysiology (EP) professionals across international EP centres (European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) survey, 51 countries)
- Participants
- 401 professionals · 51 countries
- Outcome
- Contemporary vascular access site management practices during EP procedures
Methodological detailsinternational survey, 30-question survey, Disseminated via EHRA, March–April 2025
- International survey
- 30-question survey
- Disseminated via EHRA, March–April 2025
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Vascular access site management practices
- Ultrasound guidance usually or always used
- 71.7%
- Ultrasound guidance used rarely or never
- 21.4%
- Formal ultrasound training received
- 17.3%
- No institutional haemostasis protocol
- 46.8%
- Suture-mediated closure most common haemostasis method
- 60.4%
- Manual compression
- 33.0%
- Vascular closure devices (VCDs)
- 5.8%
- Figure-of-eight suture with hand-tied knot most frequent suture technique
- 79.7%
- Experience with VCDs, typically reserved for high-risk cases
- 36.0%
- Heparin before transeptal puncture
- 38.1%
- Protamine rarely or never used
- 62.1%
- Anticoagulation partially interrupted for routine atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation
- 52.1%
- Anticoagulation uninterrupted for routine AF ablation
- 41.1%
- Median bed rest, right-sided EP procedures
- 4 h
- Median bed rest, AF or left-sided EP procedures
- 6 h
- Average quoted vascular complication risk during consent
- 3% (IQR 1-5%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Respondent characteristics
- Cardiology consultants/attendings
- 82.0%
- Performing >150 EP procedures annually
- 57.3%
Original publication
Vascular access site management during electrophysiology procedures: a European Heart Rhythm Association survey. Europace. Published 16 June 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it