Percutaneous suturing of femoral artery access sites after diagnostic cardiac catheterization or coronary intervention

Perclose Inc. (Menlo Park, CA, USA) has developed suture devices (Prostar(R), Techstar(R)) for percutaneous closure of arterial access sites from 5-9 F after diagnostic cardiac catheterization or coronary interventions. Tissue adaptation by placement of a vascular wall suture establishes immediate haemostasis. From 6 June 1995 to 31 January 1996, the percutaneous vascular wall suture system was used on 1030 patients. Successful closure of the suture was achieved in 923 patients (89.6%). Because of incomplete haemostasis, 107 patients (10.4%) were treated with a conventional compression bandage without any complications. Therefore a total of 923 (89.6%) out of 1030 patients were mobilized after a maximum of 4 h recovery in a lying position. The total complication rate was 0.78% (n = 8) and comprised three large haematomas (> 5 cm), three false aneurysms, one transfusion and one superficial infection. Therefore, percutaneous vascular sutures for closing arterial access sites are a safe and effective method to achieve immediate haemostasis. Further controlled studies are necessary to evaluate the safety of early mobilization.