title: Do 5-F-catheters reduce the incidence of a pseudoaneurysm?
abstract: Femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is a major problem in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. This study describes our experience with 5 French (5 F) and 7 French (7 F) introduction sheaths and 7 investigators at our institution regarding the incidence of pseudoaneurysms. During 54 months (1/1990-6/1994) 8715 consecutive patients after diagnostic cardiac catheterization were first clinically checked for pseudoaneurysm and in case of suspicion a duplex sonography was performed. In 86 (1%) patients, 44 (52%) women and 42 (48%) men, mean age 63 +/- 9.7 years we observed this complication by duplex ultrasound. 54 (62%) patients had arterial hypertension, 18 (20%) diabetes and only 3 (3.6%) had peripheral arteriosclerosis. An antithrombotic medication was used in 60% (52 patients). As compared to a control group of 450 consecutive patients a pseudoaneurysm was significantly more likely to occur in patients with a history of hypertension (63% vs 25%, p < 0.0001). Women are also at higher risk representing 51% of all pseudoaneurysms as compared to 29% in the control group (p < 0.0001). Using 7-F catheters more pseudoaneurysms occurred (82/7183; 1%) than using 5 F (4/1532; 0.2%) introduction sheaths (p = 0.0005). There were also significantly more pseudoaneurysms caused by investigator 1 (21/787; 2.7%) as compared to the other investigators (65/7829; 0.8%), (p = 0.0002). Investigator 1 had a more distal puncture technique than the others. Pseudoaneurysms complicating cardiac catheterization occur 5-times more frequent using 7 F (1%) as compared to 5 F catheters (0.2%). Moreover distal puncture site is associated with a higher frequency of pseudoaneurysms.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zahn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thoma
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fromm
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lotter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zander
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seidl
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Senges
mesh_terms: D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002404:Catheterization; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011677:Punctures / Q000379:methods; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography