Background: Transfemoral percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) requires strict bed rest, causing pain and discomfort in patients. However, no studies have investigated this issue.
Objectives: To investigate the predictors of discomfort in transfemoral PCI patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 110 patients from two coronary care units completed questionnaires on demographic and clinical characteristics, visual analogue pain scale, and discomfort.
Results: Eight factors predicted overall discomfort: physiologic pain, physiological discomfort, psychological discomfort, analgesic use after sheath removal, hemostasis method, and bed rest duration. Psychological discomfort was associated with age, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, analgesic use after sheath removal, successful hemostasis, and hematoma >5 cm. A hierarchical regression model explained 70.5% of the variance in overall discomfort.
Conclusions: Age and physiologic pain are major predictors of overall discomfort, especially in patients aged <60 years having high pain sensitivity. Critical care providers should note patients' physiological and psychological issues throughout the PCI process.
Keywords: Discomfort; Pain; Predictor; Transfemoral percutaneous coronary intervention.
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