SHORT-TERM (4 HOURS) OBSERVATION AFTER ELECTIVE CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

In a prospective evaluation of the safety of short-term observation af ter elective percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 1,900 consecutive patients, 1 of 1,680 patients triaged to discharge a fter 4 hours of observation reached the primary end point of acute rec urrent ischemia, 7 patients underwent repeat PTCA during 4 hours of ob servation, and 66 of 187 patients selected for prolonged observation h ad a complicated course. It is concluded that short-term observation a fter elective coronary angioplasty is safe, with a negligible risk of vessel closure after this period; triage for prolonged observation can be based appropriately on the immediate procedural result.