Surgical complications from hemostatic puncture closure devices

BACKGROUND: For securing immediate hemostasis following percutaneous arterial catheterization, the Food and Drug Administration has approved three hemostatic puncture closure devices. We reviewed our institutional experience with one device (Angio-Seal). METHODS: A retrospective, single-center, nonrandomized observational study was made of all vascular complications following femoral cardiac catheterization. RESULTS: An immediate mechanical failure of the device was experienced in 34 (8%) patients. Surgical repair was required in 1.6% (7 of 425) of patients following Angio-Seal versus 0.3% (5 of 1662) following routine manual compression (P = 0.004). In 5 patients, the device caused either complete occlusion or stenosis of the femoral artery. The polymer anchor embolized in 1 patient and was retrieved with a balloon catheter at surgery. CONCLUSION: During the first year of utilization of a percutaneous hemostatic closure device following cardiac catheterization, we observed a marked increase in arterial occlusive complications requiring surgical repair. Surgeons must be familiar with the design of these devices to achieve precise repair of surgical complications. Am J Surg. 1999;178:511-516. (C) 1999 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.