Clinical Implications
Catheter ablation has emerged as an important tool for the management of
AF, and the number of AF ablation procedures continues to rise, while
complication rates are steadily decreasing.1 To date,
there is no recommendation regarding discharge time after a catheter
ablation.1 Hence, the majority of centers admit
patient for at least an overnight stay. This practice has obvious cost
implications. A SDD strategy can alleviate some of the financial strain
on healthcare systems, which is of extreme importance in the current
climate. The recent COVID-19 pandemic reminds us that patient choice,
hospital economics, and hospital resource would support a SDD approach.
As the world-wide hospital systems recover, options like SDD should be
considered for the physical/mental health of our patients and the
strength of our healthcare system. Ultimately, SDD could improve the
patient experience and reduce healthcare cost burdens on hospital
resources that are already strained to meet the needs of the growing AF
patient population.1, 14