Post-electrophysiology mortality usually not related to procedure

(HealthDay)—Half of major complications within 30 days of electrophysiology (EP) procedures occur after discharge, but the majority of deaths are not directly related to the procedure, according to a study published online Feb. 14 in the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.

Sarah K. Hussain, M.D., from the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, and colleagues characterized the incidence and timing of adverse events up to 30 days after EP procedures at a tertiary academic medical center. All patients undergoing EP procedures between January 2010 and September 2012 were followed for 30-days post-procedure.

Data were included for 3,213 procedures. The researchers observed major complications in 2.2 percent of patients, and about half of these (49 percent) occurred after discharge. Overall, 0.6 percent of patients died; 73 percent of deaths were unrelated to the procedure, and were secondary to worsening of the patient's underlying comorbid conditions.

"In our cohort, half of major complications occurring within 30 days occurred after discharge," the authors write. "In addition, three quarters of deaths within 30 days were not directly related to the procedure and caution should be used in using all-cause mortality as an outcome measure for EP procedures."

Several authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.