title: A retrospective study on the use of heparin for peripheral vascular intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare immediate outcomes for patients who receive and those who do not receive heparin during lower limb endovascular intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case series of 330 procedures for lower limb peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Patient records were interrogated for bleeding or thrombotic/embolic complications during or immediately after endovascular intervention for peripheral arterial occlusive disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 220 patients who received heparin, 21 (9.6%) suffered an access site bleed compared with 2 of the 110 patients (2%) who did not receive heparin (odds ratio [OR] = 5.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3-25; P = .01). There were 6 embolic/thrombotic complications in the patients who received heparin (2.7%) compared with 4 in those that did not receive heparin (3.6%; P = .74). In 187 cases, a closure or compression device was used (StarClose, n = 109; Angio-Seal, n = 42; FemoStop, n = 35; ProGlide, n = 1), of which there were 3 access bleeding complications (2%). One hundred and forty-three cases did not have a closure or compression device associated with 17 (12%) access bleeding complications (OR = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.09-0.64; P = .004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, heparin use and nonuse of a closure or compression device was associated with an increased risk of access site bleeding. Embolic/thrombotic complications were uncommon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Royal Hobart Hospital, Liverpool Street, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. stuart.walker@dhhs.tas.gov.au
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beasley
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reeves
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000401:mortality; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006493:Heparin