Percutaneous access and closure of femoral artery access sites associated with endoluminal repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

Purpose: To report longer follow-up and further experience using the Prosta r XL Percutaneous Vascular Surgery (PVS) device for access and closure of l arge bore femoral artery access sites during endovascular repair of abdomin al aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Methods: One hundred forty-four patients (128 men; mean age 72 years, range 56-89) undergoing endovascular AAA repair had percutaneous access and clos ure of their 16-F femoral artery access sites using a 10-F PVS device. The first 54 patients were enrolled in the phase III trial of the AneuRx stent- graft for AAA treatment. Results: The femoral artery access site was successfully closed in 136 (94. 4%) patients, with only 8 patients in whom adequate hemostasis could not be obtained. One-month follow-up Was available in 144 patients, 6-month in 10 0, and 1-year in 59. No groin or lower extremity complications have been ob served in any patient who had successful closure of the femoral artery acce ss site. Conclusions: Large-bore femoral artery access sites can be percutaneously r epaired using this device, which minimizes the invasiveness of the endograf t procedure.