UNPLANNED ADMISSIONS AFTER OUTPATIENT CARDIAC-CATHETERIZATION

Increasing numbers of patients are undergoing diagnostic catheterizati on as outpatients; however, a small proportion of patients requires ho spital admission following the procedure. Unplanned admissions after c onsecutive outpatient cardiac catheterizations performed during 1 year were prospectively reviewed to determine the incidence of and reasons for admission. Among 847 patients undergoing outpatient cardiac cathe terization, 130 patients (15%) required hospital admission after the p rocedure. Admitted patients were divided into four groups: patients un dergoing immediate percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTC A) (Group 1; 33%), patients with severe cardiac disease requiring urge nt intervention (Group 2; 48%), patients suffering complications or he modynamic instability (Group 3; 15%), and patients whose procedures we re completed too late to allow same-day discharge (Group 4; 4%). Patie nts over 65 were more likely to require admission and women were more likely to be admitted with complications or hemodynamic instability. F indings are compared with results of other outpatient series, and impl ications regarding appropriate setting for outpatient catheterization are discussed.