Related Experiment Videos
Cardiac catheterisation by the Judkins technique as an outpatient procedure
K G Oldroyd1, K V Phadke, R Phillips
1Department of Cardiology, City General Hospital, Stoke on Trent.
Insights
Left heart catheterisation is a safe outpatient procedure for most patients, significantly reducing hospital bed usage and saving approximately 35,000 pounds for every 500 procedures performed.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- Left heart catheterisation is a common diagnostic procedure.
- Assessing the feasibility of outpatient procedures is crucial for healthcare efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and cost-effectiveness of left heart catheterisation using a modified Judkins technique as a day patient procedure.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of case notes for 900 consecutive patients undergoing the procedure between January 1984 and December 1986.
- Patients were selected from outpatient referrals at a regional cardiac centre.
Main Results:
- 94.4% of patients were discharged on the same day.
- Complications leading to admission occurred in 4.4% of patients, including myocardial infarction (0.7%) and major vascular complications (0.2%).
- Significant cost savings were estimated, with approximately 35,000 pounds saved per 500 procedures.
Conclusions:
- Left heart catheterisation can be safely performed as an outpatient procedure in the majority of cases.
- Day patient procedures for left heart catheterisation lead to substantial cost savings and efficient bed utilization.
Objective:
To assess the safety and cost benefit of left heart catheterisation by a modified Judkins technique performed as a day patient procedure.
Design:
Review study of case notes of consecutive patients examined by the procedure over three years (January 1984 to December 1986).
Setting:
Outpatient referrals in a regional cardiac centre within a district general hospital.
Patients:
Nine hundred patients aged 18-76 (mean 54) selected at a previous clinic as suitable for the procedure.
Main Results:
Eight hundred and fifty patients (94.4%) were discharged home on the day of the procedure. Forty others (4.4%) could not be discharged owing to complications during or just after the procedure. Of these patients, two died (0.2%), six suffered a myocardial infarction (0.7%), and two had major vascular complications. The remaining 30 patients were admitted because of chest pain without infarction (10 cases), minor vascular incidents (six), haemorrhage at the puncture site (five), arrhythmia (four), pulmonary oedema (three), and contrast reaction (two). Ten patients were admitted for either urgent coronary artery bypass grafting or social reasons.
Conclusions:
Cardiac catheterisation is safe as an outpatient procedure in most cases. Beds are spared and roughly 35,000 pounds is saved for every 500 procedures performed.