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VIDEO: Few complications related to same-day discharge in patients implanted with ICDs
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SAN FRANCISCO — In this video, Richard I. Fogel, MD, FHRS, CCDS, from St. Vincent Medical Group, Indianapolis, and past president of the Heart Rhythm Society, discusses the results of a trial analyzing same-day discharge after implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation at the Heart Rhythm Society Annual Scientific Sessions.
The 265 low-risk patients were randomly assigned same-day discharge or next-day discharge after their ICD implantation and remotely monitored for 3 to 4 hours after discharge.
Fogel said there was a very low complication rate, as only six of the 265 patients had complications and there was no statistical difference between the two groups.
Cost effectiveness did not differ much between the patient groups, which, according to Fogel, may be due to the complexities of how the costs were studied. Patient satisfaction also did not differ, which Fogel said was unexpected because “it makes sense to me that patients who go home would be happier.”
Fogel concluded that same-day discharge after ICD implantation “hits, or should hit on almost all” of the drivers of improving population health, including quality improvement, lowering costs, improving patient experience and improving provider experience.