Limitations
Before considering the broad applicability of the results of our study,
certain important limitations should be noted. These include: the
retrospective non-randomized nature of the study; the study was
performed at high-volume ablation centers; and the possibility that
there was under-reporting of minor self-limiting complications such as
small groin hematoma in the SDD group. Follow-up transthoracic
echocardiogram which may missed asymptomatic pericardial effusions were
not performed. The study was solely based on cryoballoon ablation
techniques for AF and may not be applicable to other modalities of
ablation. Lastly, the selection of patients deemed appropriate to be
discharged by the operators was based on their skills, comfort level,
and hospital-specific discharge standards, therefore these results
should be cautiously generalized.