Factors impacting complication rates for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation from 2003 to 2015

Complications from catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) are well described. Changing aspects of AF ablation including patient populations referred, institutional experience, and emerging catheter and pharmacological options may impact complication rates. We assessed procedural complication trends in AF ablation patients from 2003–2015 to identify what factors affect adverse event rates.

We evaluated consecutively enrolled patients undergoing initial AF ablation from 2003 through 2015. Statistical analyses were performed to identify predictors of increased risk for major complications, which were defined as death, stroke, atrio-oesophageal fistula, phrenic nerve injury, cardiovascular events requiring blood transfusions or procedural interventions, or non-cardiovascular events requiring intervention. A total of 1475 patients (mean age 59.5 ± 10.5, 82% male) were evaluated. Major complications occurred in 3.9% (n = 58) of cases, including vascular access-site haematoma (1.3%), cardiac tamponade (1.1%), and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) (0.9%). Univariate analysis revealed increased risk of complications associated with hypertension (P = 0.048), CHA₂DS₂VASc score ≥1 (P = 0.015), and early institutional experience (P = 0.003). Populations with higher CHA₂DS₂VASc scores underwent AF ablation more frequently over time (P < 0.001). Novel catheters and anticoagulants did not appreciably affect complication rates. Multivariate analysis adjusting for hypertension, CHA₂DS₂VASc score, and institutional experience showed that higher CHA₂DS₂VASc score and early institutional experience were independent predictors of adverse events.

Patient characteristics reflected in CHA₂DS₂VASc scoring and early institutional experience predict increased complication rates following AF ablation. Despite more patients with higher CHA₂DS₂VASc scores undergoing AF ablation, complication rates fell over time as institutional experience increased.