Safety of outpatient peripheral angioplasty.
OBJECTIVE
The safety of performing peripheral percutaneous angioplasty on an outpatient basis was studied.


METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all peripheral angioplastic procedures performed at one institution during a 4-year period. The 350 procedures in 235 patients included 84 inpatient cases, 141 outpatient cases, and 125 1-day-care cases (ie, procedures performed in patients transferred from other hospitals).


RESULTS
The rates of major complications were 8.3% +/- 3.0 (mean +/- standard error) (n = 7) for inpatients. 5.0% +/- 1.8 (n = 7) for outpatients, and 5.6% +/- 2.1 (n = 7) for 1-day-care patients. Furthermore, 95% confidence intervals for the difference between complication rates were -10.3% and 3.5% for outpatient versus inpatient cases and -9.9% and 4.4% for 1-day-care versus inpatient cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of a major complication resulting from peripheral angioplasty in appropriately selected outpatients is no greater than it is for patients admitted for overnight observation.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada.
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D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000628:therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D015642:Radiology, Interventional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety