Management of catheter ablation in arrhythmia patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic

AIMS: Health care providers have reduced outpatient services and delayed elective cardiac surgeries during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) epidemic, while a large number of patients face more cardiovascular risks compared with those of the pandemic. The present study attempted to explore the management of catheter ablation in arrhythmia patients during the pandemic. METHODS AND RESULTS: From 1 January 2020 to 24 March 2020, a total of 269 arrhythmia patients hospitalized for catheter ablation under strict risk assessments and careful infection prevention were retrospectively analysed and considered for our analysis at our centre. Preventive measured included a 14 day quarantine, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) nucleic acid detection, adoption of personal protection equipment, application of hand disinfectant, management of hospital visitors, and maintenance of environmental hygiene. Three patients who had fever following ablation and were finally excluded from SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, and no hospital infection occurred during the 3.1 ± 1.5 day hospitalization period. Additionally, 258/269 (95.9%) patients were free from arrhythmia after a median 133 day follow‐up (Q1, 81; Q3, 143; ending 1 June 2020), and no SARS‐CoV‐2 infections occurred at follow‐up. CONCLUSIONS: By adopting strict risk assessments and careful infection prevention measures, catheter ablation in patients with arrhythmia can be safely and effectively performed during the COVID‐19 epidemic in well‐controlled areas.