Latest news with #ablation
Medscape
02-06-2025
- Business
- Medscape
Same-Day Discharge Criteria Outlined for AF Ablation
SAN DIEGO — Same-day discharge after ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is an appropriate strategy for saving costs if performed with strict selection criteria and protocols, according to a recently issued joint statement from the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society. Same-day discharge has long been indicated for catheter ablations to abort routine atrial flutter, atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, and focal atrial tachycardias, according to the authors of the new joint statement. Although they maintained patients selected for elective catheter ablation of AF require heightened scrutiny, they endorsed same-day AF ablation when used selectively. The statement evaluates 'evidence supporting shorter hospitalization stay with same-day discharge for intracardiac ablations agonistic to site of care,' reported Amit J. Shankar, MD , an electrophysiologist with Canton-Potsdam Hospital in Potsdam, New York, who served as a representative for the Heart Rhythm Society in developing the statement. Whether in a hospital setting or an outpatient facility, the statement describes same-day discharge ablation as an opportunity to improve patient access, improve efficiency, and reduce healthcare costs. The adoption of same-day discharge after AF ablation was accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Samuel O. Jones, MD, a cardiologist affiliated with The Chattanooga Heart Institute in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. 'Improved workflows, technological innovations, and procedure advancements have also contributed to the high rates at which these are performed,' added Jones, who helped write the statement. The statement was released on April 24 to coincide with the first day of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) 2025 annual scientific meeting. It was simultaneously published in Heart Rhythm and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology . The scientific statement's recommendation is intended for elective rather than urgent or emergency ablations. Support for the statement was drawn from multiple case-controlled studies, meta-analyses, and outcome databases. In one example, a 12-study meta-analysis with data from more than 18,000 elective ablations showed no significant differences in major complications from the procedure among the 40.5% of patients discharged the same day relative to those who were discharged after at least one night in the hospital. In another study, drawn from a real-world prospective registry, outcomes were compared for potential candidates for same-day ablation on the basis of prespecified criteria and those who were not eligible for the procedure. These criteria included no bleeding history, a left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 40%, no pulmonary disease, and no surgical procedures within the previous 60 days. Of the 2332 patients included in the analysis, 1982 (85%) were deemed candidates for same-day ablation. Although freedom for atrial arrhythmias was comparable ( P = .0212) for the two groups, patients discharged the same day had a lower rate of complications (0.8% vs 2.9%; P < .001). The rate of readmission was similar (0.8% vs 09%; P = .924), according to the researchers. Contraindications for Same-Day Ablation In the document, relative contraindications for same-day ablation include decompensated heart failure, significant pulmonary disease, significant risk of bleeding, and any major unstable comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, or renal disease. The document recommends limiting same-day procedures to patients who can have readily available social support and can return to a hospital quickly in the event of a post-procedural complication. Acknowledging that most large hospitals offering ablation for AF already have formal selection criteria and protocols in place for same-day discharge, the authors called for free-standing sites to establish their own if they have not done so. In these settings, the authors emphasized the need to rigorously follow prespecified and 'ironclad' selection criteria and protocols. From this standpoint, Shankar said same-day procedures should always be performed on the basis of shared decision-making with the patient. While the economic benefits of same-day procedures might be shared by the facility and the patient, the latter should understand the inherent differences in the settings and participate actively in any decision of where the ablation is performed. Jones said while a substantial body of evidence supports same-day AF ablation as a safe and effective procedure that can free up necessary resources in the healthcare facility, the potential advantages are relevant only to appropriately selected patients. The new statement also suggests transfer agreements with inpatient facilities should be arranged in advance and that patients should be informed such a transfer is a possibility outside of a hospital setting. However, the document makes clear same-day ablations in alternative sites of care are reasonable when the precautions are observed. In any setting that AF ablation is performed, the writing committee encouraged tracking outcomes to ensure that high-quality care is achieved and sustained. Shankar and Jones reported no potential conflicts of interest.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rockies designated hitter Kris Bryant recovering from procedure on back, no timetable for return
FILE - Colorado Rockies's Kris Bryant walks back to the dugout after batting in the eighth inning of a baseball game Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) DENVER (AP) — For the next week or so, Kris Bryant will be restricted to not much more than a casual walk as he recovers from a procedure to fix his chronically bothersome back. The Colorado Rockies designated hitter just hopes this finally alleviates the pain. Bryant returned to town after recently traveling to Los Angeles to undergo a procedure referred to as an ablation, which is designed to interrupt pain signals being sent from the back to the brain. He explained Saturday that it took roughly 45 minutes. Advertisement 'I feel like I got stabbed in the back right now,' Bryant said before the Rockies played the San Diego Padres. 'Not ideal, but I'm in good spirits.' Once he's cleared for more than a light stroll, Bryant will return to the weight room in an effort to build strength. There's no timetable for a return to baseball activities quite yet. 'Just got to let nature take its course,' manager Bud Black explained. Bryant's currently on the injured list with lumbar degenerative disk disease, which involves the deterioration of the spinal disks that act as cushions between the vertebrae. It's his ninth stint on the IL since 2022 due to a series of health issues. Advertisement His back has gotten to the point where cortisone shots no longer work. That's why he had the ablation procedure. Anything to avoid back surgery. 'I don't want to get to that point. I don't want to get ahead of myself,' Bryant said. 'Just trying to check boxes as they go. We tried all the other, I guess you say, conservative treatments, or more traditional approaches with cortisone shots. They just didn't work for me. So this was another step along the way.' 'I'm willing to try anything,' added Bryant, whose pain at times has brought on nausea. 'It's weighed on me, for sure. It just sucks.' The 33-year-old Bryant is hitting .154 this season with no homers, one RBI, 13 strikeouts in 11 games. Advertisement Bryant has been limited to 170 games with Colorado since signing a $182 million, seven-year contract before the 2022 season. He's suffered from an array of injuries, including plantar fasciitis, a bone bruise in his foot, heel issues, a broken finger, a back strain, a lower rib contusion and back problems. 'Right now I feel like I'm in a good spot,' said Bryant, the 2016 NL MVP with the Chicago Cubs. 'It just wears on you. It's not an easy thing for me to deal with but doing the best I can with a pretty crappy situation." He hasn't set any sort of baseball goals quite yet. 'It's really just one day at a time," Bryant said. "Just continuing to do everything I can that's in my power — and the training staff's power — to find a way to navigate this.' ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
10-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Rockies designated hitter Kris Bryant recovering from procedure on back, no timetable for return
DENVER (AP) — For the next week or so, Kris Bryant will be restricted to not much more than a casual walk as he recovers from a procedure to fix his chronically bothersome back. The Colorado Rockies designated hitter just hopes this finally alleviates the pain. Bryant returned to town after recently traveling to Los Angeles to undergo a procedure referred to as an ablation, which is designed to interrupt pain signals being sent from the back to the brain. He explained Saturday that it took roughly 45 minutes. 'I feel like I got stabbed in the back right now,' Bryant said before the Rockies played the San Diego Padres. 'Not ideal, but I'm in good spirits.' Once he's cleared for more than a light stroll, Bryant will return to the weight room in an effort to build strength. There's no timetable for a return to baseball activities quite yet. 'Just got to let nature take its course,' manager Bud Black explained. Bryant's currently on the injured list with lumbar degenerative disk disease, which involves the deterioration of the spinal disks that act as cushions between the vertebrae. It's his ninth stint on the IL since 2022 due to a series of health issues. His back has gotten to the point where cortisone shots no longer work. That's why he had the ablation procedure. Anything to avoid back surgery. 'I don't want to get to that point. I don't want to get ahead of myself,' Bryant said. 'Just trying to check boxes as they go. We tried all the other, I guess you say, conservative treatments, or more traditional approaches with cortisone shots. They just didn't work for me. So this was another step along the way.' 'I'm willing to try anything,' added Bryant, whose pain at times has brought on nausea. 'It's weighed on me, for sure. It just sucks.' The 33-year-old Bryant is hitting .154 this season with no homers, one RBI, 13 strikeouts in 11 games. Bryant has been limited to 170 games with Colorado since signing a $182 million, seven-year contract before the 2022 season. He's suffered from an array of injuries, including plantar fasciitis, a bone bruise in his foot, heel issues, a broken finger, a back strain, a lower rib contusion and back problems. 'Right now I feel like I'm in a good spot,' said Bryant, the 2016 NL MVP with the Chicago Cubs. 'It just wears on you. It's not an easy thing for me to deal with but doing the best I can with a pretty crappy situation.' He hasn't set any sort of baseball goals quite yet. 'It's really just one day at a time,' Bryant said. 'Just continuing to do everything I can that's in my power — and the training staff's power — to find a way to navigate this.' ___ AP MLB:
The Australian
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Australian
Hungarian hospital debuts Imricor mapping system
The first procedure performed using Imricor's platform of devices in Hungary has taken place this week Procedure performed by Semmelweis, a highly regarded team known for advanced electrophysiology services and commitment to cutting-edge treatments Imaging and mapping system designed to enable higher success rates with faster, safer treatments compared to conventional methods. Special Report: In a new step toward European expansion, the first atrial flutter ablations procedure guided by real-time MRI using Imricor's platform of devices in Hungary has taken place at the Semmelweis University's Heart and Vascular Centre in Budapest. Imricor (ASX:IMR) has welcomed the further deployment of its technology, which is designed to improve medical intervention procedures by using real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guidance, rather than traditional x-ray fluoroscopy guidance. The company is confident its tech is safer and more cost effective, offering higher success rates due to the increased detail offered, particularly in soft tissues and organs, without the use of ionizing radiation. Imricor chair and CEO Steve Wedan said he was thrilled to have another world-class medical institution begin real-time MRI-guided ablation procedures, and excited to expand IMR's installed base into Hungary. 'With our European sales team nearly fully staffed, we are looking forward to continued expansion and growth across Europe, including adding additional sites to our VISABL-VT trial, where we expect the power of real-time periprocedural magnetic resonance imaging to improve patient outcomes and lower procedure times, all in an environment that is 100% free of dangerous ionising radiation,' Wedan said. 'That's our mission.' What are cardiac catheter ablation procedures? Cardiac catheter ablation procedures are a type of minimally invasive procedure used to treat abnormal heart rhythms. It involves guiding thin, flexible catheters (tubes) through blood vessels to the heart and using heat or cold to create small scars that disrupt faulty electrical signals which cause irregular heartbeat. The procedure is typically guided by x-ray imaging, but x-rays are better suited for visualising bone structures and hard tissues. The Vision-MR Ablation Catheter is Imricor's primary offering, designed to work under real-time MRI guidance with the goal of offering better soft tissue imaging without exposure to ionising radiation through x-ray imaging. This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.
