Feasibility and safety of day-case transfemoral coronary stenting

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is usually followed by overnight observation. In order to increase activity from a limited bed base, we planned to discharge a cohort of patients undergoing uncomplicated PCI procedures on the same day. Seventy patients considered suitable for same-day discharge underwent PCI procedures and a 100% stent rate was planned with device closure of the arterial access site. Procedural success was achieved in 68 (97%) of patients and 51 (73%) were discharged as day cases. None re-presented or had clinical complications within 24 hr. Nineteen (27%) were kept in hospital electively for observation. No preprocedural clinical or angiographic characteristics predicted successful or failed day-case discharge. In selected patients who undergo uncomplicated PCI with stenting and device arterial closure, same-day discharge appears safe and achievable in about three-quarters of cases.