Same-day discharge is preferred by the majority of the patients undergoing radial PCI

There is limited data on patient preference for same-day discharge PCI. We contacted 953 patients who had same-day discharge radial PCI between 1998 and 2001 and checked whether they were satisfied with same-day discharge and whether they had any complications within 30 days post-PCI (vascular, repeat angiogram/PCI). Complications and health status were also verified by checking hospital records, our province-wide cath lab database and provincial vital statistics, as well as by contacting the referring doctor. A total of 811 patients responded. Of this total, 88.6% of the patients were satisfied with same-day discharge PCI, and 11.4% were not. Patients were significantly more satisfied with same-day discharge when they did not experience vascular complications (83.4% versus 91.5% satisfied with and without vascular complications at 24 hours, and 74.3% versus 90.9% at 30 days, p < 0.01). Patient preference on same-day discharge was the same regardless of whether they needed a repeat PCI within 30 days (p > 0.05). Patients for whom early discharge was important were significantly more satisfied with same-day discharge (97.9% versus 79.7% when early discharge was not important, p < 0.01). Patients who were reluctant to be discharged on the same day of the procedure were significantly less satisfied compared to those who were not (71.9% vs. 96.4% respectively, p < 0.01). A few patients (8.6%) had difficulty finding transportation home and were significantly less satisfied (70.0% vs. 90.3% when they found transportation easily, p < 0.01). In conclusion, same-day discharge is preferred by the majority of the patients undergoing radial PCI.