Prospective evaluation of the optimal duration of bed rest after vascular interventions using a 3-French introducer sheath.
OBJECTIVE
To assess optimal bed-rest duration after vascular intervention by way of the common femoral artery using 3F introducer sheaths.


METHODS
Eligibility criteria for this single-center, prospective study included clinically necessary angiography, no coagulopathy or anticoagulant therapy, no hypersensitivity to contrast medium, age >20 years, and written, informed consent. Enrolled patients were assigned to one of three groups (105/group) with the duration of bed rest deceased sequentially. A sheath was inserted by way of the common femoral artery using the Seldinger technique. The first group (level 1) received 3 h of bed rest after the vascular intervention. If no bleeding or hematomas developed, the next group (level 2) received 2.5 h of bed rest. If still no bleeding or hematomas developed, the final group (level 3) received 2 h of bed rest. If any patient had bleeding or hematomas after bed rest, the study was terminated, and the bed rest of the preceding level was considered the optimal duration.


RESULTS
A total of 105 patients were enrolled at level 1 between November 2010 and September 2011. Eight patients were excluded from analysis because cessation of bed rest was delayed. None of the remaining subjects experienced postoperative bleeding; therefore, patient enrollment at level 2 began in September 2011. However, puncture site bleeding occurred in the 52nd patient immediately after cessation of bed rest, necessitating study termination.


CONCLUSIONS
To prevent bleeding, at least 3 h of postoperative bed rest is recommended for patients undergoing angiography using 3F sheaths.
Division of Interventional Radiology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, 1007 Shimonagakubo Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka, 411-8777, Japan, t.aramaki@scchr.jp.
Takeshi
T
Aramaki
Michihisa
M
Moriguchi
Emima
E
Bekku
Masahiro
M
Endo
Koiku
K
Asakura
Narikazu
N
Boku
Kenichi
K
Yoshimura
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001510:Bed Rest / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors