A Randomized Controlled Trial on Position Change followed by early Ambulation after Trans-Femoral Coronary Angiography

Femoral route is a common approach for doing coronary angiography, but bed rest is recommended due to risk of vascular complications. The aim of present study was to assess effect of position change followed by early ambulation after coronary angiography via femoral approach on comfort, fatigue and vascular complications of the patients

A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 80 patients (40 each in control and experimental group) undergoing coronary angiography in a tertiary care institute in India. Patients in control group were placed in supine position and ambulated after 6 hours. Experimental group were kept in supine position for 2 hours after angiography, followed by right lateral position (1 hour), supine position (1 hour) and ambulated after 4 hours. Kolcaba's Outcome was assessed using General Comfort Questionnaire, Numerical pain rating scale and Fatigue Visual Numeric Scale at 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours after angiography. Incidence of vascular complications was documented at 24^th hours

At 4^th and 6^th hours after angiography, fatigue experienced by experimental group was significantly lower than control group. At 6^th and 24^th hour, experimental group had significantly lesser back pain and better comfort. There was no significant difference in the incidence of vascular complications between the control and experimental groups

Position change followed by early ambulation after coronary angiography via femoral approach is safe and effective as it decreases back pain, fatigue and improve comfort without increasing vascular complications.