DUPLEX-GUIDED COMPRESSION OF FEMORAL-ARTERY FALSE ANEURYSMS REDUCES THE NEED FOR SURGERY

In a 1-year period, 13 patients underwent duplex-guided compression (D GC) of femoral artery false aneurysms. Of the 13 false aneurysms, 11 a rose after cardiac catheterisation, and DGC was successful in 10 (77%) cases. The number of percutaneous cardiological procedures has risen over the past 5 years, and with time a greater proportion of these pro cedures have become more complex, involving coronary angioplasty or co ronary stenting. The rate of vascular complications has risen from 0.2 % in 1991-1992 to 0.61% in 1994-1995. Duplex-guided compression has re duced the number of operations performed for the vascular complication s of percutaneous cardiological procedures by 50%. No complications ha ve arisen from DGC, and it is recommended as the first line of managem ent for femoral artery false aneurysms after percutaneous cardiologica l procedures.