Safety and predictors of next-day discharge after elective transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Abstract

We sought to determine the predictors of next-day discharge (NDD) for selected patients undergoing elective transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF-TAVR). Techniques have rapidly evolved over the last several years to simplify TF-TAVR allowing for a subset of patients to be discharged the next day. Baseline and procedural characteristics, in-hospital and 30-day follow-up outcomes, complications and readmission rates of 100 TF-TAVR cases were assessed. Patients selected for NDD all met the following criteria: no procedural complications, same day ambulation, strong family support with home supervision, and access to our valve coordinator post discharge. There were 22 patients in NDD and 78 in later-day discharge (LDD) groups respectively. The mean length of stay was 3.4days for LDD. There were no significant differences in baseline, pre-procedural characteristics, or frailty indices of the two groups. However, there were more baseline oxygen dependent patients in LDD (p=0.004). Procedural characteristics included more balloon expandable valves (p=0.005), less fluoroscopy time (p=0.008), and higher use of moderate sedation (p=0.0001) in NDD group. There were more minor vascular complications (p=0.04) and new permanent pacemaker implantations (p=0.016) in the LDD group. There were no vascular complications, stroke or blood transfusions in the NDD group. The 30-day re-admission and mortality rates were similar in both groups. In logistic analyses only moderate sedation was a strong predictor of next day discharge after TF-TAVR (p=0.003). Carefully selected patients without complications following TF-TAVR can be discharged safely the next day.