Comparison of complications in percutaneous coronary intervention patients mobilized at 3, 4, and 6 hours after femoral arterial sheath removal

The purpose of this research study was to explore groin complication rates of patients mobilized at 3, 4, and 6 hours after femoral arterial sheath removal following a percutaneous coronary intervention procedure. Participants were recruited from those undergoing coronary angioplasty and coronary stent placement at a large public hospital in Brisbane, Queensland. Participants were randomly allocated to the 3, 4, or 6 hourly mobilization group. After removal of the femoral arterial sheath and again the next day, participants' groins were assessed for evidence of complications including hemorrhage, hematoma formation, and pseudoaneurysm. The results showed that the length of bed rest after arterial sheath removal had no significant effect on bleeding (F304 = 5.39, P = 0.21) or hematoma formation (F304 = 0.258, P = 0.612) at the groin puncture site for participants who mobilized at either 3, 4, or 6 hours after percutaneous coronary intervention arterial sheath removal.