RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility and safety of early ambulation 3 to 4 h after diagnostic 7 French cardiac catheterization. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blind assignment to one of 3, 4 or 6 h ambulation postcardiac catheterization groups. SETTING: Tertiary care community hospital in an urban region. PATIENTS: Eight hundred and seventy-four consecutive inpatients and out-patients presenting for routine diagnostic cardiac catheterization. INTERVENTION: Hematoma formation and other vascular complications recorded at the time of discharge and 24 h later. MAIN RESULTS: No significant difference in hematoma formation rates was noted among patients mobilized at 3 h (3.6%), 4 h (4.8%) or 6 h (3.2%). Late hematoma formation occurred in 2.3% of patients. Other vascular complications were very rare. Reported rates of hematoma formation varied significantly (P < 0.05) among physicians, ranging from 0.9% to 8.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Early ambulation of patients 3 to 4 h after routine diagnostic 7 French cardiac catheterization is both safe and feasible. These findings could result in more efficient recovery bed utilization, reduced nursing costs and improved patient compliance with bed rest.