title: Achieving femoral artery hemostasis after cardiac catheterization: a comparison of methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac catheterization is a common procedure that involves the introduction of a small sheath (5F-8F) into the femoral artery for insertion of other diagnostic catheters. After cardiac catheterization, local compression of the femoral artery is required to prevent bleeding and to achieve hemostasis. Traditional methods of achieving hemostasis require significant time and close supervision by medical personnel and can contribute to patients' discomfort. VasoSeal is a recently developed device that delivers absorbable collagen into the supra-arterial space to promote hemostasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare outcomes between patients receiving a collagen plug and patients in whom a traditional method of achieving hemostasis was used after diagnostic cardiac catheterization.
  
  
  METHODS
  An outcomes tracking tool was used to analyze the medical records of 95 patients in whom a traditional method was used (traditional group) and 81 patients in whom VasoSeal was used (device group) to achieve hemostasis. Complications at the femoral access site, patients' satisfaction, and times to hemostasis, ambulation, and discharge were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hematomas of 6-cm diameter occurred in 5.3% of the traditional group; no complications occurred in the device group. The device group also achieved hemostasis faster and had earlier ambulation (P < .001). Patients in the device group were discharged a mean of 5 hours sooner than patients in the traditional group (P < .05). No significant differences were found in patients' satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VasoSeal is a safe and effective method of achieving hemostasis after cardiac catheterization that can hasten time to hemostasis, ambulation, and discharge.
authors.affiliation: Jewish Hospital, Louisville, Ky., USA.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Schickel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adkisson
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Miracle
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Cronin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D003094:Collagen / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006406:Hematoma / Q000209:etiology; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011312:Pressure
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen