There is limited data on patient preference for same-day discharge PCI. We contacted 953 patients who had same-day discharge radial PCI between 1998 and 2001 and checked whether they were satisfied with same-day discharge and whether they had any complications within 30 days post-PCI (vascular, repeat angiogram/PCI). Complications and health status were also verified by checking hospital records, our province-wide cath lab database and provincial vital statistics, as well as by contacting the referring doctor. A total of 811 patients responded. Of this total, 88.6% of the patients were satisfied with same-day discharge PCI, and 11.4% were not. Patients were significantly more satisfied with same-day discharge when they did not experience vascular complications (83.4% versus 91.5% satisfied with and without vascular complications at 24 hours, and 74.3% versus 90.9% at 30 days, p0.01). Patient preference on same-day discharge was the same regardless of whether they needed a repeat PCI within 30 days (p0.05). Patients for whom early discharge was important were significantly more satisfied with same-day discharge (97.9% versus 79.7% when early discharge was not important, p0.01). Patients who were reluctant to be discharged on the same day of the procedure were significantly less satisfied compared to those who were not (71.9% vs. 96.4% respectively, p0.01). A few patients (8.6%) had difficulty finding transportation home and were significantly less satisfied (70.0% vs. 90.3% when they found transportation easily, p0.01). In conclusion, same-day discharge is preferred by the majority of the patients undergoing radial PCI.
