Ambulation 1 hour after diagnostic cardiac catheterization: a prospective study of 1009 procedures.
OBJECTIVE
To study the safety of a protocol that allows ambulation 1 hour after diagnostic cardiac catheterization with a transfemoral approach using a 5F catheter system.


METHODS
A total of 1005 consecutive patients (1009 procedures) undergoing outpatient diagnostic cardiac catheterization with a transfemoral approach using a 5F catheter system at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, were included in this study from January 1, 2004, to August 31, 2005. All patients underwent standard manual compression to achieve hemostasis and were ambulated after 1 hour of bed rest.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 64.5 years, and 62% were male. Minor vascular complications occurred in 33 procedures (3.3%), Including 14 hematomas (1.4%) less than 4 cm and 19 cases of rebleeding (1.9%) that required repeated manual compression. Only 1 patient (0.1%) had a hematoma greater than 4 cm. No patient had a major complication, such as surgical repair, red blood cell transfusion, retroperitoneal bleeding, formation of an arteriovenous fistula or pseudoaneurysm, arterial occlusion, or an infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Ambulation 1 hour after diagnostic cardiac catheterization with a transfemoral approach using a 5F catheter system is safe and associated with low rates of vascular complications. This strategy may improve patient comfort, reduce resource utilization, and be preferable to use of vascular closure devices.
Doyle
Brendan J
BJ
Molecular Medicine Program, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Konz
Brent A
BA
Lennon
Ryan J
RJ
Bresnahan
John F
JF
Rihal
Charanjit S
CS
Ting
Henry H
HH
D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D004434:Early Ambulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019370:Observation; D011446:Prospective Studies