Early Hospital Discharge After PCI for STEMI Deemed Safe

HealthDay News – For patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI), an early discharge strategy within 48 to 56 hours is safe, according to a study published in the June 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology.

M. Hulusi Satilmisoglu, MD, from Mehmet Akif Ersoy Chest and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul, and colleagues examined whether an early discharge strategy (within 48 to 56 hours) is safe for patients with successful PPCI. A total of 769 eligible patients with STEMI were randomized to the early or standard discharge group.

Researchers found that the length of hospital stay was significantly shorter for the early discharge vs the standard discharge group (45.99 ± 9.12 vs 114.87 ± 63.53 hours; P<.0001). The study groups did not differ in terms of all-cause mortality (P=.684) or readmissions (P=.061). No significant between-group difference was seen for quality-of-life measures.

“Our study reveals that discharge within 48 to 56 hours after successful PPCI is feasible, safe, and does not increase the 30-day readmission rate,” the authors wrote. “Moreover, the patients perceived health status at 30 days did not differ with early discharge.”

Reference

Satilmisoglu MH, Gorgulu S, Asku HU, et al. Safety of early discharge after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Am J Cardiol. 2016;117(12):1911-1916. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2016.03.039.