New aspects in ultrasound-guided compression repair of postcatheterization femoral artery injuries

Background: This study was undertaken to expand the understanding of ultrasound-guided compression repair (UGCR) of postcatheterization femoral artery injuries. Methods and Results: In a series of 62 patients with pseudoaneurysms (n=53) or arteriovenous (AV) fistulas (n=9), UGCR was performed as a nonsurgical method in the treatment of postcatheterization femoral artery injuries. When the communicating channel could be visualized (43 cases), pressure was focused on it; otherwise (10 cases) the extraluminal cavity itself was compressed. In 45 cases, the elimination of flow in the pseudoaneurysm and/or the communicating channel could be achieved only with simultaneous temporary complete occlusion of the femoral artery. UGCR was successfully performed in 25 of 27 cases of false aneurysms (93%) in patients without anticoagulation and in 14 of 26 patients (54%) on anticoagulants. Three of 9 AV fistulas could be repaired by this method. No apparent correlation could be found between the therapeutic success and the size of the pseudoaneurysm or the age of the lesion. Conclusions: In patients on anticoagulants and in patients with AV fistulas; the detection of a communicating channel that could be obliterated by direct mechanical compression was discerned as a discriminant factor of success.