Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evidence on the impact of obesity on catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia (VT) is scarce. METHOD AND RESULTS: We queried the Nationwide Readmissions Database to determine the hospital outcomes and procedural complications of VT ablation among the obese and nonobese populations. Obesity was associated with a more prolonged length of stay (p < .01), higher cost of hospitalization (p < .01), and higher rates of pericardial effusion or hemopericardium (p = .05) and vascular complications (p = .05). There was no significant difference in early mortality, 30-day readmissions, and other procedural complications. CONCLUSION: VT ablation could be performed relatively safely among patients with obesity.