Outpatient coronary stenting using the femoral approach with vascular sealing.

PURPOSE: We report here the use of vascular sealing devices in conjunction with the use of small transfemoral guiding catheters to decrease time to ambulation, decrease cost associated with hospitalization and achieve early discharge.

METHODS: Fifty patients were enrolled in this pilot project from two busy interventional practices between May 1997 and February 1999. Patients with stable or unstable angina or positive ETT and with recent myocardial infarction greater than 24 hours from the time of the procedure were included. Excluded patients included those who had received glycoprotein IIb/IIIa platelet inhibitors and those with intra-procedure access site complications.

RESULTS: Of the 50 patients originally recruited, 49 underwent vascular sealing for hemostasis and 45 were discharged on the same day, as planned. Early home telephone follow-up was available on 41 of the 45 same-day discharge patients, of whom 30 noted no complaints. One patient, who had been re-accessed in the right femoral artery after a previous intervention, developed a pseudoaneurysm requiring surgical repair. One-month follow-up was available on all patients. No patient suffered a late ischemic event or access site complication requiring treatment. There were no instances of stent loss, acute closure or subacute thrombosis.

CONCLUSION: Though limited by small numbers, this pilot study shows that selected patients undergoing coronary stenting via the femoral approach can be safely treated on an outpatient basis using vascular sealing devices. Cost savings may be significant using this strategy.