title: Safety of outpatient cardiac catheterizations.
abstract: Since 1979 most of the cardiac catheterizations at the investigators' institution have been performed as outpatient procedures. All cardiac catheterizations performed over a 66-month period were analyzed. A total of 3,071 outpatient cardiac catheterizations (83% of all cardiac catheterizations) were performed. The percutaneous femoral technique was used in 98% of the procedures. Most patients (79%) had both right and left-sided cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography, which showed significant coronary artery disease (70.4%). Only 13.6% of the study results were normal. Thirty-four patients (1.1%) had major complications, including 4 deaths (0.13%). Seventy patients (2.3%) were admitted for observation only. More than 96% of all patients did not have a major complication and were discharged the same day. Thus, outpatient cardiac catheterization can be performed safely, with a potential reduction in hospital costs and better utilization of medical beds.
mesh_terms: D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D002170:Canada; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care