title: Infectious complications resulting from use of hemostatic puncture closure devices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Femoral access site complications have increased as the fields of invasive cardiology, radiology, and endovascular surgery have emerged. In order to address one of these complications, hemorrhage, the hemostatic puncture closure devices were developed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of cardiac catheterizations performed at a single institution to investigate infectious groin complications related to use of the Perclose Prostar and Techstar devices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infectious groin complications were significantly higher in the Perclose group as compared with manual compression. Three patients had clinical and laboratory evidence of arterial infection whereas 2 had soft tissue infections. All 5 required operative intervention ranging from incision and drainage to arterial reconstruction. Hemorrhagic complications were not significantly different between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Perclose devices provide hemostasis after femoral artery catheterization similar to manual compression. However, infectious groin complications appear to be more common with these devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Vascular Surgery, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Moursi
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Eidt
mesh_terms: D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006119:Groin; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D011677:Punctures; D012189:Retrospective Studies