Design: Descriptive, correlational

Population, Sample, Setting, Years: 249 patients undergoing PCI were recruited from one heart hospital in the urban Midwest, U.S.A. from 6/3/02-12/10/03.

Intervention and Outcome Variables: Patient characteristics (age, gender, hypertension, body surface area [BSA], angina, diabetes) and incidence of vascular complications (ecchymosis, hematoma, oozing, pulsatile mass) were assessed.

Methods: Patients were recruited prior to PCI in the cardiovascular laboratory. After PCI, patients were transferred to the nursing unit wherein assessment for presence of VC commenced. Nurses assessed the groin area prior to, immediately, 12-, and 24 hours after femoral sheath removal. Descriptive statistics and correlational analyses were used.

Findings: Patients' mean age was 61.9 (+/- 11.4) with 79% male, 21% female, 93% Caucasian and 7% minority representation. VC occurrence was ecchymosis (34%), hematoma (18%), oozing (11%), and pulsatile mass (0.4%). Age was significantly correlated with ecchymosis (r = .15; p = .01); hematoma with BSA (r = -.18; p = .004) and; oozing with angina (X2 = 6.04; p = .01).

Conclusions: Ecchymosis was the most common VC in this patient sample and was associated with older age. Lower BSA was related to hematoma, and angina history to oozing.

Implications: Older, smaller PCI patients with angina may require extra vigilance and tailoring of nursing care to prevent VC. This study exemplifies how the patient care community (nursing staff, clinical nurse specialist, nurse researcher, physicians and patients) at one hospital collaborated to assess and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

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Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004