© 2008 The British Institute of Radiology
Day-case diagnostic and interventional peripheral angiography: 10 year experience in a radiology specialist nurse-led
D Y HUANG 1,
C-M ONG ,
H L WALTERS 1,
C J WILKINS 1,
D R EVANS 1,
R D EDMONDSON 2,
K JONES 2,
H I RASHID 2,
C D DEANE 3,
D E GOSS 3,
P S SIDHU 1
1 Department of Radiology, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK
2 Department of Vascular Surgery, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK
3 Department of Vascular Laboratory,King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London SE5 9RS, UK
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Abstract |
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Here, we describe a prospective evaluation of the safety of peripheral angiography procedures performed on day-case patients in a dedicated radiological nurse-led and administrated unit. Patients referred for peripheral vascular angiography, over a 10-year period, were pre-assessed by a radiology specialist nurse in a nurse-led clinic. Radiologists performed all procedures, whereas radiology specialist nurses were responsible for patient care before, during and after angiography and during the 24 h follow-up. Procedures were divided into diagnostic or interventional; complications were divided into immediate or delayed (24 h follow-up) either requiring hospital admission (major) or day-case unit management (minor). Patient acceptability was assessed using a standard questionnaire. Cost analysis was also performed. 401 day-case peripheral angiography procedures (144 diagnostic and 257 interventional) were performed in 310 patients. 109/401 (27.2%) procedures were performed on patients with diabetes mellitus. In diagnostic studies, 16/144 (11.1%) immediate and 6/144 (4.2%) delayed complications occurred whereas, in interventional studies, 65/257 (25.3%) immediate and 13/257 (5.1%) delayed complications were noted. A major complication occurred in 17/257 (6.6%) of patients in the interventional group and 3/144 (2.1%) in the diagnostic group. Puncture site haematoma was the most common complication. Nurse-led care was acceptable to the patient, with a high level of patient satisfaction seen. In conclusion, day-case diagnostic and interventional peripheral angiography procedures can be performed safely in a specialist nurse-led and -administrated unit, with complication rates being within the accepted guidelines.
