Special Technology Sessions-6159-Complications of Electrophysiologic Studies

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this video, Dr. Dave Callans discusses complications of electrophysiology (EP) procedures and how to avoid and manage them. He emphasizes that complications are a part of all EP procedures and should not be seen as a reflection of the operator's skills. However, efforts should be made to minimize complications. Dr. Callans highlights several factors that contribute to the incidence of complications, including procedural complexity, severity of patient illness or comorbidity, and operator inexperience. He also points out that there is a marked variation in complication type and incidence based on the procedure type. Prompt recognition and treatment of complications is crucial, as studies have shown that complications can lead to a decline in patient health. Dr. Callans discusses specific complications and their prevention and management strategies. For example, he recommends the use of vascular ultrasound for access to reduce complications. He also emphasizes the importance of careful ablation power titration and vigilant monitoring of patients during procedures to prevent pericardial effusion and tamponade. In addition, Dr. Callans discusses complications related to atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia ablation, as well as implantable device-related complications. He encourages operators to track their own complication rates and compare them to benchmarks to identify areas for improvement.

Keywords

complications

electrophysiology procedures

avoiding complications

managing complications

procedural complexity

patient illness

operator inexperience

complication prevention

complication management