Korean single-center experience with femoral access closure using the ExoSeal device.

AIM: To report 17-mo experience of femoral artery puncture site closure during angiographic procedures using ExoSeal vascular closure devices (VCDs).

METHODS: Between November 2015 and April 2017, we performed 179 diagnostic and interventional angiographic procedures via a common femoral arterial access. The ExoSeal VCD was used at the puncture site to achieve hemostasis in 125 patients. We evaluated the technical and procedural success rates, the complications, and the factors affecting the hemostasis time of the ExoSeal VCDs.

RESULTS: Technical and procedural successes were achieved in 176 cases (98.0%) and 128 cases (71.5%), respectively. Device failure occurred in 3 (1.7%) cases. In 1 case (0.6%) a small hematoma developed, but there were no major complications. Among the hemostasis-relevant variables, a history of drinking alcohol, low platelet (PLT) count, and high prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (commonly known as PT-INR) values were the statistically significant predictors of the need for longer manual compression (MC). There was no difference in the success rates between the repeat and single ExoSeal procedure groups, and repeated use of the ExoSeal did not affect hemostasis time.

CONCLUSION: The ExoSeal VCD effectively achieves hemostasis, with few complications. Longer light MC may be needed with alcohol drinkers, low PLT count, and high PT-INR values.