A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Flat Times Versus Standard Care in Pediatric Patients Post Cardiac Catheterization.

BACKGROUND

Pediatric patients undergoing cardiac catheterization procedures are required to lie flat for 4 hours for femoral venous access and 6 hours for femoral arterial access. Authors of research in adults suggest the flat time for the same access can be safely reduced to 1.5 to 2 hours post procedure. No literature was found that flat times could be safely reduced for pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether decreased flat time for the post-cardiac catheterization pediatric patient would impact the incidence of site bleeding, additional sedation, and the need for a critical care admission.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was designed and participants were randomly assigned to experimental or control group. The experimental group reduced flat times to 2 hours for venous and 4 hours for arterial. The control group was standard care of 4 hours for venous and 6 hours for arterial.

RESULTS

A total of 119 participants were enrolled, 60 in the experimental group and 59 in the control group. Results suggest no difference in the incidence of site bleeding (P = .999), additional sedation (P = .653), or need for a critical care admission.

CONCLUSIONS

For pediatric patients undergoing arterial or venous cardiac catheterizations, flat times can safely be reduced without increasing site bleeding, additional sedation, or critical care admissions.