title: Mechanical compression versus haemostatic wound dressing after femoral artery sheath removal: a prospective, randomized study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bleeding complications in the groin are one of the major disadvantages of femoral catheter procedures. The immobilisation of the patient and the compression bandages can jeopardize the patients' comfort. Aim of the study was a randomized comparison of safety and patient comfort of mechanical pressure followed by pressure bandage overnight using two different haemostatic pads after femoral artery sheath removal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine hundred and eight consecutive patients undergoing diagnostic or therapeutic procedures via a 5 or 6 F femoral sheath were randomly selected either for mechanical compression therapy followed by a compression bandage (302 patients, group 1), or manual compression with application of a calcium ion releasing device (compression bandage only after application of > 5000 IU of heparin; 303 patients; group 2), or manual compression with a thrombin covered PAD without compression bandage (303 patients, group 3).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No major hemorrhage or death occurred. A false aneurysm was found in 10 (3.3%), 13 (4.3%), and 10 patients (3.3%) of group 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p = 0.38). Three patients (0.3%) needed surgical treatment. 69 (22.7%) patients in thrombin covered PAD-group required a compression bandage overnight due to seeping hemorrhage after 15 minutes. In the calcium ion releasing PAD-group 124 (40.9%) patients had continued bandaging, 46 (15.2%) due to seeping hemorrhage after 15 min, and 78 (25.7%) due to application of heparin > 5000 IU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of mechanical compression combined with a pressure bandage, and the use of haemostatic wound dressing assisted sheath removal technique offer a comparable level of safety. Patient comfort is improved with the usage of PAD devices, however the technical failure rate of the PAD should be taken into account.
authors.affiliation: Heart Center Bad Krozingen, Bad Krozingen, Germany. thomas.schwarz@herzzentrum.de
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rastan
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pochert
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sixt
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schwarzwälder
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Bürgelin
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Büttner
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeller
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000464:Alginates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D001458:Bandages; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011677:Punctures / Q000009:adverse effects; D013917:Thrombin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D000925:Anticoagulants; D006490:Hemostatics; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006493:Heparin; D013917:Thrombin