|
| Parameter | Overall | High-volume AF ablation centres, | Low-volume AF ablation centres, | |
|
| Mean experience in catheter ablation, years | 9.8 ± 5.7 | 9.7 ± 4.2 | 10.9 ± 6.3 | 0.7 |
| Median number of catheter-ablation procedures | 2149 (IQR: 1330–4010) | 4010 (IQR: 2782.5–5866) | 1750 (IQR: 912–2445) | 0.008 |
| Median number of catheter-ablation procedures per year | 266.7 (IQR: 97.1–569.3) | 569.3 (IQR: 266.7–842.8) | 114 (IQR: 78.3–267.3) | 0.005 |
| Median experience in AF ablation, years | 5 (IQR: 4–8) | 6 (IQR: 5–10.5) | 5 (IQR: 4–8) | 0.05 |
| Median number of AF ablation procedures | 284 (IQR: 43–1237) | 1237 (IQR: 460.5–1948.5) | 52 (IQR: 40–284) | 0.001 |
| Median number of AF ablation procedures per year | 89.4 (IQR: 15–202.6) | 202.6 (IQR: 142.3–493.4) | 25.7 (IQR: 13–89.4) | 0.001 |
| Mean number of CBAs | 35.2 ± 29.0 | 59.1 ± 31.7 | 14.6 ± 8.9 | 0.004 |
| Proportion of CBA among all AF cases | 12.5% (IQR: 4.5–26.9) | 4.5% (IQR: 2–12) | 18.6% (IQR: 4.6–13) | 0.01 |
| Mean age, years | 54.8 ± 5.4 | 53.6 ± 2.3 | 55.9 ± 7.1 | 0.46 |
| Gender, % of males | 56.3% | 62.8% | 50.8% | 0.002 |
| Left atrial diameter, mm | 41.9 | 41.8 | 42.1 | 0.33 |
| Routine echo guidance, number of centers | 10 | 4 | 6 | 1.05 |
| Periprocedural anticoagulation strategy, centers | | | | |
| Uninterrupted Warfarin | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0.59 |
| Bridge anticoagulation | 10 | 5 | 5 | 1.0 |
| NOACs | 11 | 5 | 6 | 1.0 |
| Fluoroscopy time, min | 27.7 ± 10.2 | 24.6 ± 9.9 | 33.8 ± 9.5 | 0.34 |
| Procedure time, min | 155.7 ± 35.7 | 154.5 ± 28.4 | 156.8 ± 44.8 | 0.91 |
| RF touch-up applications, centers | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0.19 |
| Isolation of all PVs, % of patients | 89.3% | 97% | 79.4% | <0.001 |
| Arrhythmia-free rate at 6 months | 63.9% | 64.6% | 60.8% | 0.96 |
| Major complications | 7 (1.5%) |
5 (1.4%) | 2 (2.0%) | 0.66 |
| Tamponade | 4 (0.87%) | 3 (0.84%) | 1 (0.98%) | 1.0 |
| Stroke | 2 (0.4%) | 2 (0.56%) | 0 | 1.0 |
| Persistent phrenic nerve palsy | 1 (0.2%) | 0 | 1 (0.98%) | 1.0 |
| Minor procedure-related events | 37 (8%) | 35 (9.9%) | 2 (2.0%) | 0.007 |
| Pericardial effusion | 1 (0.2%) | 1 (0.28%) | 0 | 1.0 |
| Transient phrenic nerve paresis | 23 (5%) | 21 (5.9%) | 2 | 0.08 |
| Vascular complications | 8 (1.8%) | 8 (2.2%) | 0 | 0.21 |
| Arteriovenous fistula | 3 (0.65%) | 3 (0.84%) | 0 | 1.0 |
| Femoral artery pseudoaneurysm | 5 (1%) | 5 (1.4%) | 0 | 0.59 |
| Transient hemoptysis | 5 (1%) | 5 (1.4%) | 0 | 0.59 |
| Total procedure-related events | 44 (9.6%) | 40 (11.3%) | 4 (3.9%) | 0.03 |
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