INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT PRESSURE DRESSINGS ON PERIPHERAL VASCULAR COMPLICATIONS AFTER DIAGNOSTIC CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

500 consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography we re studied for vascular complications using either a conventional (n = 250) or a special mechanical device for compression dressing (n = 250 ). In both groups one case of arterial occlusion occurred. Using the c onventional pressure dressing, we observed four pseudoaneurysms, where as there were none in the special mechanical device dressing group (p < 0.05). In contrast, eight patients developed a deep vein thrombosis after mechanical device pressure dressing compared to only 1 venoust i n the conventional dressing group (p < 0.02). Five patients, four of t he eight patients with mechanical device dressing, suffered from clini cal apparent pulmonary embolism (p = 0.1801). Thus, a mechanical devic e pressure dressing may decrease the number of arterial pseudoaneurysm s but is associated with an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Therefore, we recommend the use of the mechanical device pressure dressing only in selected patients with severe obesit y.