title: Deep sedation during catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in elderly patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. AF incidence increases with age. AF ablation procedures are routinely performed under deep sedation with propofol. The purpose of the study was to evaluate if propofol deep sedation during AF ablation is safe in elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred one consecutive patients (mean age, 61.4 ± 11.1 years; range, 20-82; 66.3 % men) who were presented to our institution for ablation of symptomatic AF were enrolled. Patients were divided into three groups: Patients in group A were ≤50 years old; patients in group B were 51-74 years old; and patients in group C were ≥75 years old. Procedures were performed under deep sedation with propofol, midazolam, and piritramide. SaO2, electrocardiogram, arterial blood pressure, and arterial blood gas were monitored throughout the procedure. Sedation-related complications, intraprocedural complications, and other adverse events were evaluated. Fisher exact or χ (2) tests were used for comparison of adverse events and complications among groups. Analysis of variance was used to compare sedation- and procedure-related parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-three (13.2 %) elderly patients were in group C and were compared to 73 (18.2 %) patients in group A and 275 (68.8 %) in group B. No significant differences in sedation-related or intraprocedural complications were seen (group A, 1.4 %; group B, 1.1 %; group C, 3.7 %; p = 0.336). Despite a significantly greater drop in systolic blood pressure in under sedation in group C (group A, 15.5 ± 9.5 mmHg; group B, 18.9 ± 16.3 mmHg; group C, 32.3 ± 15.5 mmHg; p < 0.001), no prolonged hypotension was observed. The rate of other adverse events (delirium, respiratory infection, renal failure) was significantly higher in group C (9.4 %), compared to group A (0 %) and group B (2.2 %; p = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Deep sedation with propofol and midazolam during AF ablation did not result in an increased rate in sedation-related complications in elderly patients. Similarly, the rate of procedural complications was not significantly different among the study groups. The rate of respiratory infections and renal failure was significantly higher in the elderly. All adverse events were treated successfully without any remaining sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany, alexander.wutzler@charite.de.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wutzler
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Loehr
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huemer
authors.forename: Abdul Shokor
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Parwani
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Steinhagen-Thiessen
authors.forename: Leif-Hendrik
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Boldt
authors.forename: Wilhelm
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haverkamp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D054810:Deep Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D015742:Propofol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D015742:Propofol