title: Novel femoral artery puncture closure device in patients undergoing interventional and diagnostic cardiac procedures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The wide range of closure devices for arterial access sites still leaves room for improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report our initial experience with a novel, cost-effective, suture-mediated device (6 French X-PRESS device, X-SITE Medical, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania) for closure of the arterial access site after both diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. A total of 51 consecutive patients are reported. The closure was performed immediately after the procedure. No patient had more than 5,000 U heparin administered during the procedure. The closure device was used in 36 patients (73%) after diagnostic angiography and in 15 patients (27%) after therapeutic intervention. The device could be successfully deployed in 48 patients (94%). In the remaining 3 cases (6%), hemostasis was achieved with standard manual compression without any further event. Immediate total hemostasis was achieved with the device in 44 of 48 patients (92%). Four devices (8%) could not be deployed correctly due to technical problems and the patients needed additional manual compression. The average time to achieve complete hemostasis was 5.5 +/- 3.5 minutes (range, 3-26 minutes). The patients were ambulated after a period of 1.3 +/- 0.4 hours of bedrest (range, 0.8-3.5 hours). Time to possible discharge was 4.2 +/- 3.4 hours (range, 0.9-12.5 hours). One patient experienced a minor complication (hematoma < 6 cm) and was treated with manual compression without clinical sequelae. Telephone follow-up was carried out 2 weeks after deployment and revealed no sequelae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 6 French X-PRESS device is safe and effective in providing rapid hemostasis following interventional or diagnostic catheterization procedures. Use of the device is associated with a low rate of complications and facilitates quick hemostasis, mobilization and discharge.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Cardiovascular Center Bern, University Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Haresh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fleisch
authors.forename: Tushar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Windecker
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garachermani
authors.forename: Franz R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Eberli
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meier
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular; D004434:Early Ambulation; D004867:Equipment Design / Q000295:instrumentation; D004869:Equipment Safety / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011677:Punctures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D016896:Treatment Outcome