Same-day discharge cardiac cathteterizations and interventonal procedures during covid-19 pandemic in 2021
Abstract
Background: One-year analysis of same-day discharge (SDD) coronary catheterizations, interventions and device replacement procedures during the covid-19 pandemic at the Complex Cardiovascular Center of the University Hospital in Pilsen. Methods: In 2021, 53 to 87 patients were admitted monthly and 817 in total to the SDD specialized Radial Lounge at the Department of Cardiology.
Coronary angiography (CAG) was performed in 729 patients and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 176 (24%). Fifty-five patients were admitted for permanent pacemaker exchange and in 33 of them an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator exchange.
Results: Out of 729 transradial CAGs 621 were performed by using the conventional proximal radial approach and 108 (15%) via the distal radial approach, 90 % of all procedures (n = 655), were performed from the nondominant left hand. Only one asymptomatic postprocedural radial artery occlusion was diagnosed by the reverse Barbeau test on the wrist (1/729 = 0.1%).
No other relevant complications occured. The distal radial approach was associated with a shorter compression with time in comparison to the proximal puncture site at the wrist - 75 ± 26 min vs. 92 ± 24 (p < 0.05) and there were only four superficial hematomas smaller than 2 cm.
In the proximal radial approach subcutaneous hematomas also did not require any specific treatment. Of the total of 817 patients, 90% (n = 732) were discharged home on the same day of admission in the afternoon and none of them was readmitted within the next 24 hours.
The remaining 10% of the patients (n = 85) were hospitalized after the procedure, mostly because of severe findings on the coronary arteries. Conclusions: Coronary catheterizations and interventions together with device replacement procedures in the SDD program at the University Hospital in Pilsen were associated with a one-year saving of more than 700 overnight stays, minimal complications, and 99.9% radial artery patency rate after transradial procedures.