title: Editor's choice. A randomized controlled trial of the fascia suture technique compared with a suture-mediated closure device for femoral arterial closure after endovascular aortic repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to investigate whether the fascia suture technique (FST) can reduce access closure time and procedural costs compared with the Prostar technique (Prostar) in patients undergoing endovascular aortic repair and to evaluate the short- and mid-term outcomes of both techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this two center trial, 100 patients were randomized to access closure by either FST or Prostar between June 2006 and December 2009. The primary endpoint was access closure time. Secondary outcome measures included access related costs and evaluation of the short- and mid-term complications. Evaluation was performed peri- and post-operatively, at discharge, at 30 days and at 6 months follow up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median access closure time was 12.4 minutes for FST and 19.9 minutes for Prostar (p < .001). Prostar required a 54% greater procedure time than FST, mean ratio 1.54 (95% CI 1.25-1.90, p < .001) according to regression analysis. Adjusted for operator experience the mean ratio was 1.30 (95% CI 1.09-1.55, p = .005) and for patient body mass index 1.59 (95% CI 1.28-1.96, p < .001). The technical failure rate for operators at proficiency level was 5% (2/40) compared with 28% (17/59) for those at the basic level (p = .003). The proficiency level group had a technical failure rate of 4% (1/26) for FST and 7% (1/14) for Prostar, p = 1.00, while corresponding rates for the basic level group were 27% (6/22) for FST and 30% (11/37) for Prostar (p = .84). There was a significant difference in cost in favor of FST, with a median difference of €800 (95% CI 710-927, p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In aortic endovascular repair FST is a faster and cheaper technique than the Prostar technique.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Vascular Surgery, Örebro, Sweden. Electronic address: thomas.larzon@orebroll.se.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Larzon
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Vascular Surgery, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gruber
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Henrikson
authors.affiliation: Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magnuson
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Falkenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery and Radiology, National Hospital Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lönn
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Vascular Surgery, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Norgren
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D002983:Clinical Competence; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D004867:Equipment Design; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061646:Operative Time; D011677:Punctures; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013548:Sweden; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D065506:Vascular Closure Devices / Q000191:economics
keywords: Cost analysis; Endovascular aneurysm repair; Fascia suture; Percutaneous closure; Procedure time; Randomized controlled trial