Study: Closure devices cut complications after cardiac procedure (VIDEO)

The use of vascular closure devices significantly reduced complications and the need for transfusions in obese and overweight patients undergoing transfemoral percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but the benefit over manual closure was not seen in lean and normal-weight patients or in those treated with a glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, researchers reported.The benefit was also counterbalanced by a small increase in risk of retroperitoneal bleeding, Hitinder S. Gurm, MD, of the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center in Ann Arbor, and colleagues, wrote online in the Annals of Internal Medicine.Vascular closure devices (VCDs) are designed to prevent arterial bleeding, especially after PCI performed by the transfemoral route, which is still the most common route in the U.S.The devices permit closure of the arteriotomy site using sutures, plugs, or metallic clips, but the role of these devices in preventing vascular complications remains controversial, the researchers noted."Most randomized trials evaluating VCDs have been small and underpowered, and the largest meta-analysis on the subject raised concerns that these devices may be associated with an increase in vascular complications," they wrote. "These devices are commonly used in clinical practice, and a recent large observational study suggested that they may be associated with a reduction in bleeding complications."The newly published study is among the first to compare the efficacy of VCDs to manual closure in ...
Source: Medical Hemostat - Category: Technology Consultants Authors: Source Type: blogs