Abstract 17191: Intraprocedural Dobutamine Use is Independently Associated With Prolonged Length of Stay (LOS) Following Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) Ablation

Abstract

Introduction: Use of inotropes such as dobutamine remains controversial in the management of heart failure (HF) due to uncertain efficacy and lack of mortality benefit. Furthermore, vasoactive drugs are frequently utilized during VT ablations despite minimal data regarding their effects on outcomes. Vasoactive drugs may impact factors such as long-term VT recurrences and hospital length of stay. Hypothesis: We sought to evaluate the hypothesis that the use of dopamine, dobutamine or phenylephrine have differential effects on outcomes after VT ablations. Methods: A retrospective analysis was completed for all VT ablations from 2013-17 at our institution. Patient characteristics and procedural details were collected for 149 VT ablation cases. Results: The cohort was 81% male, and 67% had cardiomyopathy of which 53% were ischemic with a mean EF of 29% (CI 26.7- 31.4). Average procedure time was 368 minutes (CI 347-388). Vasoactive drugs were used in 87% of patients undergoing VT ablation: phenylephrine (67%), dopamine (40%), dobutamine (37%). The median LOS for all patients was 5 days (mean 7 days, range 1 - 56 days, IQR 2 - 9 days). After adjusting for inducibility, HF and procedural time, the dose of dobutamine, but not dopamine or phenylephrine, was significantly associated with increased length of stay (Fig. 1a). Inducible VT at the end of the procedure also correlated with increased LOS (5.4±0.3 vs 8.6±0.3, p < 0.0001). Procedural time did not associate with increased LOS. Of all covariates, only the number of VTs induced during the procedure was significantly associated with increased VT recurrence (HR 1.22/VT morphology (CI 1.11-1.34, p < 0.001)). Conclusions: Dobutamine, but not phenylephrine or dopamine, was significantly associated with increased length of stay after adjusting for HF, procedural time and inducibility of VT. More research is needed regarding vasoactive drug use in VT ablations and their significance to procedural and post-procedure outcomes.