The Particulars: In 2009, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) published a consensus statement that included standards for length of stay (LOS) following PCI. Data are lacking on the impact of adherence to these standards on actual LOS following outpatient PCI.
Data Breakdown: For a 3-year study, a quality improvement committee highly encouraged all interventional cardiologists at an institution to follow the recommendations outlined in the SCAI consensus document. During the study period, overnight observation of outpatient PCI patients decreased from 81% to 39% of cases. In the final year of the study, 75% of overnight observations involved complex procedural aspects or patient comorbidities not meeting SCAI criteria for same-day discharge.
Take Home Pearl: Using a quality improvement committee to ensure adherence to the SCAI 2009 standards for LOS following PCI appears to significantly decrease overnight observation following outpatient PCI.
