Early mobilization after femoral approach diagnostic coronary angiography to reduce back pain

This review aims to provide an evidence-based argument that time to mobilization can be decreased in patients after femoral approach diagnostic coronary angiogram in patients with a low risk of vascular complications, where a vascular closure device has not been used. Early mobilization will help to decrease or prevent the potential for back pain occurring. A total of 15 studies published from 1996 to 2011 that met the inclusion criteria were identified. Risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals of vascular complications were calculated for all studies, and a meta-analysis was completed. The results from this study showed no statistically significant difference in vascular complications between the control groups and the early mobilization (out of bed) groups at ≤2, 3, or 4 hr after femoral approach coronary angiogram. Therefore, mobilization after femoral approach coronary angiogram, without deployment of a vascular closure device, may be as safe at 1.5 to 4 hr mobilization as it is at 6 hr and is likely to have a positive benefit of reducing back pain related to lying in bed.