Discussion
The principal finding of this study is that a SDD strategy after an
uncomplicated elective cryoballoon ablation for AF is safe and
effective. The patient selection and triage for SDD was different at the
three geographically diverse centers, supporting the notion that this
strategy is generally safe across a wide variety of physician user
habitats and hospital discharge policies. Importantly, none of the
complications in the SDD cohort occurred less than 24 hours from the
time of discharge; therefore, complications observed in the SDD cohort
would not have been identified had the patients been observed during an
overnight stay. Additionally, there may be some positive impact on local
healthcare economics. Specifically, our study found that the SDD of a
patient following a cryoballoon ablation for treatment of AF is
associated with cost savings to the hospital that increase with the
percent of patients discharged the same day.