Methods:
All elective procedures in New York City were cancelled following an
executive order on March 16, 2020, and on June 8, 2020 all New York City
Hospitals were authorized to resume elective procedures. In the period
between March 16, 2020 and June 8, 2020, as safety protocols were
enacted and healthcare resources became more available, medically
necessary, non-emergent procedures were performed after detailed
discussion of risks and benefits with patients. Patients were
prioritized based on severity of AF related symptoms, cardiomyopathy
risk, and frequency of AF related healthcare utilization.
Baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were evaluated in two
cohorts of consecutive patients undergoing catheter ablation of AF or
prior AF-ablation related atrial arrhythmia at New York University (NYU)
Langone Health. The 2020 cohort included 111 patients that underwent
catheter ablation between April 15, 2020 and June 15, 2020 with COVID-19
related policies and procedures in-effect, and the 2019 cohort included
200 consecutive patients that underwent catheter ablation between April
15, 2019 and June 15, 2019. All electrophysiology lab staff underwent
COVID-19 nasal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and were
monitored for new COVID-19 infection symptoms throughout the study
period. In-hospital time was defined as time from presentation to the
electrophysiology lab pre-operative area to the time of discharge from
the hospital.