PSEUDOANEURYSM OF FEMORAL-ARTERY AFTER CATHETERIZATION - TREATMENT BYA MECHANICAL COMPRESSION DEVICE GUIDED BY COLOR DOPPLER ULTRASOUND

Background-Femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is a significant complication in patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic catheterisation. Fir st choice treatment for pseudoaneurysm is freehand ultrasound guided c ompression repair, which is time consuming and uncomfortable for the p atient and operator. Aim-To explore a mechanical compression device (F emoStop) as an alternative treatment for iatrogenic femoral artery pse udoaneurysm. Methods-Fourteen patients with pseudoaneurysm were consid ered for treatment with FemoStop after a brief freehand ultrasound gui ded compression repair to confirm the compressibility of the lesion. T he FemoStop compression was applied for 20 minutes. The result was con trolled with colour Doppler ultrasound, and a second cycle of 20 minut es followed if necessary. Results-FemoStop compression was successful in 13 of the 14 patients. The mean compression time was 33 minutes (ra nge, 20-60). The mean number of compression periods was 1.6 (range 1-3 ). FemoStop compression was successful in all 11 patients not taking a nticoagulants and in two of three patients receiving anticoagulants. T he mean compression time in patients given oral or intravenous anticoa gulants was longer (50 v 27 minutes). Colour Doppler ultrasound 12 hou rs after the procedure indicated no recurrence of pseudoaneurysm in th e 13 patients with initial success. Conclusions-FemoStop compression f or iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm is feasible, and as safe and effective as freehand ultrasound guided compression repair. It is more comfortable for the patient and operator, and probably more economical than freeh and compression.