Aims: The leading reason for delayed discharge after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is vascular complications. This study aimed to evaluate feasibility, safety, and efficacy of the Perclose Proglide™ suture-mediated vascular closure in ambulatory PVI, report complications, patient satisfaction, and cost of this approach.
Methods and results: Patients scheduled for PVI were enrolled prospectively in an observational design. Feasibility was assessed as % discharged the day of procedure. Efficacy was analysed as acute access site closure rate, time to reach haemostasis, time to ambulate, and time to discharge. Safety analysis consisted of vascular complications at 30 days. Cost analysis was reported using direct and indirect cost analysis. A 1:1 propensity matched control cohort was used for comparing time to discharge to usual workflow. Of 50 enrolled patients, 96% were discharged on the same day. 100% of devices were successfully deployed. Immediate (<1 min) haemostasis was reached in 30 patients (62.5%). Mean time to discharge was 5:48 ± 1:03 h (vs. 10:16 ± 1:21 h in the matched cohort, P < 0.0001). Patients reported high level of satisfaction with the post-operative time. No major vascular complication occurred. Cost analysis showed a neutral impact compared to the standard of care.
Conclusion: The use of the closure device for femoral venous access after PVI led to safe discharge of patients within 6 h from the intervention in 96% of the population. This approach could minimize the overcrowding of healthcare facilities. The gain in post-operative recovery time improved patients' satisfaction and balanced the economic cost of the device.
Keywords: Ambulatory management; Atrial fibrillation; Femoral access; Perclose ProGlide™; Pulmonary vein isolation; Rapid discharge.
© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.