Hellenic Journal of Cardiology (Jan 2021)

Trends in ablation procedures in Greece over the 2008-2018 period: Results from the Hellenic Cardiology Society Ablation Registry

  • Vassilios P. Vassilikos,
  • Antonis Billis,
  • Michalis Efremidis,
  • George Theodorakis,
  • Georgios Andrikopoulos,
  • Spyridon Defteraios,
  • Apostolos Katsivas,
  • Dimitrios Mouselimis,
  • Anastasios Tsarouchas,
  • Pantelis Baniotopoulos,
  • Charalambos Kossyvakis,
  • Emmanouel Kanoupakis,
  • Panagiotis Ioannidis,
  • Nikolaos Fragakis,
  • Eleni Chatzinikolaou,
  • Themistoklis Maounis,
  • Stylianos Paraskevaidis,
  • Konstantinos Gatzoulis,
  • Demosthenes Katritsis,
  • Dimitrios Lysitsas,
  • Theodoros Apostolopoulos,
  • Antonis S. Manolis,
  • Dimosthenis Avramidis,
  • Sophia Chatzidou,
  • Efthymios Livanis,
  • Ioannis Papagiannis,
  • Dionysios Leftheriotis,
  • Dimitrios Tsiachris,
  • Stelios Tzeis,
  • Ioannis Rassias,
  • Stelios Rokas,
  • Georgios Levendopoulos,
  • George Kourgiannidis,
  • Dionisios Kalpakos,
  • George Stavropoulos,
  • Ioannis Chiladakis,
  • Stella Gaitanidou,
  • Charilaos Ginos,
  • Athanasios Kotsakis,
  • Konstandinos Kappos,
  • Theofilos Kolettis,
  • Emmanuil Simantirakis,
  • Antonios Sideris,
  • Skevos Sideris

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 62, no. 1
pp. 48 – 54

Abstract

Read online

Objective: In 2008, the radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedures registry of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology was created. This online database allowed electrophysiologists around the country to input data for all performed ablation procedures. The aim of this study is to provide a thorough report and interpretation of the data submitted to the registry between 2008 and 2018. Methods: In 2008, a total of 27 centers/medical teams in 24 hospitals were licensed to perform RFA in Greece. By 2018, the number had risen to 31. Each center was tasked with inserting their own data into the registry, which included patient demographics (anonymized), type of procedure and technique, complications, and outcomes. Results: A total of 18587 procedures in 17900 patients were recorded in the period of 2008-2018. By 2018, slightly more than 70% of procedures were performed in 7 high-volume centers (>100 cases/year). The most common procedure since 2014 was atrial fibrillation ablation, followed by atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia ablation. Complication rates were low, and success rates remained high, whereas the 6-month relapse rates declined steadily. Conclusion: This online RFA registry has proved that ablation procedures in Greece have reached a very high standard, with results and complication rates comparable to European and American standards. Ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation are increasing constantly, with it being the most common intervention over the last 6-year period, although the absolute number of procedures still remains low, compared to other European countries.

Keywords