Percutaneous closure of large femoral artery access with Prostar XL in thoracic endovascular aortic repair.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the technical success rate of Prostar XL for closure of large (≥20F) femoral vascular access sites in thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) procedures.


METHODS
This was a single-center consecutive case series. All TEVAR procedures at Uppsala University Hospital 2006-2010 were registered prospectively. Reoperations and cases with open closure technique were excluded. Primary (early) technical failure was defined as closure failure requiring immediate (on-table) open surgical repair; late access-related complication occurred thereafter. The medical records, pre- and postoperative computed tomography images were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
A total of 164 TEVAR procedures were identified, of which 118 (71%) had a median 22F (range 20-26F) access site sealed with tandem Prostar XL. The indications for TEVAR were dissection (47%), aneurysm (42%), trauma (8%), and miscellaneous (3%). Median follow-up time was 10 months (range 1-62). Primary technical failure occurred in 10 of 118 (8%). These cases were converted to cut-downs and surgical repair (n = 7), femoral fascia suturing (n = 2), and external compression with the Femo-Stop device (n = 1). Hypertension was associated with primary failure (p = .005), and a trend was observed for high age (p = .078) and increased groin subcutaneous fat layer (p = .077). Late access-related complications included pseudo-aneurysms (n = 12), small hematomas (n = 7), superficial groin infections (n = 2), and deep venous thrombosis (n = 1). None of the late complications required surgical treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The access closure technique with tandem Prostar XL for large access sites during TEVAR is safe, in experienced hands. Few technical failures and few late complications occur, and they are usually benign.
Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Vascular Surgery, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Surgery, Sundsvall County Hospital, Sundsvall, Sweden. Electronic address: elisabet.skagius@lvn.se.
E
E
Skagius
M
M
Bosnjak
M
M
Björck
J
J
Steuer
R
R
Nyman
A
A
Wanhainen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D011677:Punctures; D012042:Registries; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
Percutaneous access; Pre-close technique; Thoracic endovascular aortic repair; Vascular closure device