Feasibility of zero or near zero fluoroscopy during catheter ablation procedures.

BACKGROUND: Awareness of risks associated with radiation exposure to patients and medical staff has significantly increased. It has been reported before that the use of advanced three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping (EAM) system significantly reduces fluoroscopy time, however this study aimed for zero or near zero fluoroscopy ablation to assess its feasibility and safety in ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) and other tachyarrhythmias in a "real world" experience of a single tertiary care center. METHODS: This was a single-center study where ablation procedures were attempted without fluoroscopy in 34 consecutive patients with different tachyarrhythmias under the support of EAM system. When transseptal puncture (TSP) was needed, it was attempted under the guidance of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). RESULTS: Among 34 patients consecutively enrolled in this study, 28 (82.4%) patients were referred for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of AF, 3 (8.8%) patients for ablation of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) ventricular extrasystole (VES), 1 (2.9%) patient for ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT), 2 (5.9%) patients for typical atrial flutter ablation. In 21 (62%) patients the en- tire procedure was carried out without the use of fluoroscopy. Among 28 AF patients, 15 (54%) patients underwent ablation without the use of fluoroscopy and among these 15 patients, 10 (67%) patients required TSP under ICE guidance while 5 (33%) patients the catheters were introduced to left atrium through a patent foramen ovale. In 13 AF patients, fluoroscopy was only required for double TSP. The total procedure time of AF ablation was 130 ± 50 min. All patients referred for atrial flutter, AVNRT, and VES of the RVOT ablation did not require any fluoroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility of zero or near zero fluoroscopy procedure including TSP with the support of EAM and ICE guidance in a "real world" experience of a single tertiary care center. When fluoroscopy was required, it was limited to TSP hence keeping the radiation dose very low.

The evolution of Banner health's case management program.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: The evolution of case management programs continues as health care systems adapt to the requirements and provisions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. One such provision establishes a new category of health care provider-the accountable care organization. These organizations provide a form of coordinated health care delivery. The successful integration of an accountable care organization, along with a better coordinated, higher quality case management care model, will provide better access to health care, improved care transitions and safety for the patients, and lower costs to the health system. PRIMARY PRACTICE SETTING(S): Acute-care hospitals; ambulatory care centers; and primary care physician practices. IMPLICATIONS FOR CASE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE: A successful implementation of this type of case management model requires systematic changes to technological and organizational structures. The stewards of the case management model must be proactive in garnering and maintaining executive and financial support. y designing an electronic documentation system with one work flow and a standard set of data definitions, health systems will be able to provide standardization and reduce variations of care. This type of standardization creates a central database for easy reporting and decision making.• Achieved successes, associated with improved clinical outcomes, can translate into considerable reductions in the controllable expenses for a health system.