The safety and economic advantages of day case electrophysiologic studies

Electrophysiologic Studies (EPS) have been performed as 'day case' procedures in selected patients at Royal Perth Hospital since April 1987. Previously, EPS had involved hospitalisation for two to ten days. During the 51 month period to June 1991, 484 EPS were performed in total. Of these, 153 (105 males and 48 females aged 46 +/- 31y) were day case procedures. Studies were baseline in 60 cases and included drug evaluation in 30. Sixty-one additional studies were performed solely to evaluate therapy. Twenty-one patients required cardioversion. One hundred and fifty one patients were discharged on the same day and two required prolonged observation. The financial cost savings to the hospital for day case EPS is estimated to be $115 per patient and to the community potentially a further $108 per patient. This study demonstrates that in selected patients undergoing elective EPS, day case management is a safe and economic alternative to hospital admission.