Complications of femoral artery closure devices

We have examined our prospectively collected experience with femoral artery closure devices. Vasoseal (n = 937), Angioseal (N-742), and Techstar (n = 1001) were utilized consecutively in our laboratory for diagnostic and inte rventional femoral artery closures. Complications were compared to a simila r number of closures with manual compression (MC; n = 1019) before closure devices were utilized. The incidence of surgical repair, acute femoral clos ure, transfusion due to groin complications, readmission for groin complica tions, infection, and total complications were examined. We found that the Vasoseal and Angioseal devices were associated with higher rates of total c omplications than manual compression. The Techstar and manual compression h ad similar total complication rates. Acute femoral artery occlusion was a p otentially serious complication with the Angioseal device. Groin infection occurred with each of the closure devices but not with manual compression. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;52:3-7. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.