SAFETY OF OUTPATIENT PERIPHERAL ANGIOPLASTY

PURPOSE: The safety of performing peripheral percutaneous angioplasty on an outpatient basis was studied. MATERIAlS AND 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. CONCLUSION: 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.