Standards for device implantation and follow-up: personnel, equipment, and facilities: results of the European Heart Rhythm Association Survey.

Abstract

Cardiac device implantation is the most common of all invasive cardiac electrophysiological procedures. Over 250 000 devices are implanted each year in Europe. The purpose of this European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) survey was to assess the facilities, personnel, and protocols of members of the EHRA electrophysiology (EP) research network involved in device implantation. There were 68 responses to the questionnaire. The survey responses were mainly (84%) from medium- to high-volume device implanting centres, performing >200 implants per year, with over 50% performing >400 implants per year. Most consultants are male (85%), half of all centres had no female consultants, and only one in six had more than one female consultant. There is trend towards specialization in device implantation. The combination of device implantation and EP is still common (76% of all centres) but only 34% of centres have consultants performing device implantation and coronary intervention. Moreover, 23% of centres have all device implantation performed by consultants who do not perform any other types of procedure. Cardiac device implantation as a day case is the planned admission for routine elective device implantation in 30% of hospitals, 47% of hospitals have a single night stay, and 23% of hospitals have admission durations of two or more nights. Device implantation is available as a 24 h service, 365 days a year in 38% of hospitals. The commonest other model was as a daytime service on weekdays in 45% of hospitals.