PERCUTANEOUS SUTURE REPAIR OF THE FEMORAL -ARTERY AFTER PERCUTANEOUS DIAGNOSTIC CARDIAC-CATHETERIZATION OR CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY

Background and objective: Alternative methods to the conventional one of external compression with a pressure bandage over the site of arter ial puncture after percutaneous catheter introduction for coronary ang iography or transluminal balloon coronary angioplasty have failed to r educe the rate of vascular complications. This study was undertaken to assess the complication rate of a percutaneously introduced suturing device (Techstar, Perclose). Patients and methods: To achieve immediat e haemostasis and thus shorten postinterventional immobilisation the t echnique of percutaneous suturing of the femoral artery was used in 10 30 consecutive patients (793 men, 237 women; mean age 58.6 years) with out obstructive vascular disease or local vascular complications. Resu lts: Percutaneous suture closure with primary haemostasis was successf ul after 137 of 153 coronary angioplasties (89.5%) and after 786 of 97 7 left heart catheterisations (89.6%). Early mobilisation, after at mo st 4 hours, was possible in 923 patients with successful suture closur e (89.6%). The allover complication rate was 0.78 %. Conclusion: Percu taneous suture repair of the femoral artery after cardiac catheterisat ion is a safe and effective method to achieve immediate haemostasis. H owever, controlled studies are needed to demonstrate harmlessness of e arly mobilisation.