Fluoroscopy‐Guided Femoral Artery Puncture Reduces the Risk of PCI‐Related Vascular Complications

Abstract

We conclude that using fluoro to guide vascular access leads to lower complication rates and a shorter length of stay. This approach may become our regional standard of care.

Significantly Improved Vascular Complications Among Women Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

“…This finding is consistent with the concept of protection by means of enhanced care in vascular access and closure techniques, 15 including the use of fluoroscopy-guided access to define the "safety zone" for access. 23 In addition, VCD use was associated with a 25% decreased risk of bleeding/VC in both male and female patients. These findings should be interpreted with caution because data on closure device use can be confounded by selection bias and may be influenced by unmeasured patient characteristics.…”

Women, Bleeding, and Coronary Intervention

“…Safe zone arteriotomy, puncture between the lower border of inferior epigastric artery and above common femoral artery (CFA) bifurcation, 42 has been associated with a lower risk of access site related bleeding. 43 Safe arterial access may be more challenging in women: studies have shown that women have smaller and shorter CFA compared with men 44 (Figure 7).…”

Femoral Arterial Access and Closure

“…Fluoroscopic landmark: Although fluoroscopic guidance was originally proposed for "femoral puncture when the arterial pulse was diminished or obscured, for training purposes, and for analysis and correction of missed punctures," 9 it is being used increasingly and is now a commonly recommended technique for femoral artery puncture. Routine use of fluoroscopic guidance reduces the risk of vascular complications, 10 although not every study supports that contention. 11,12 The tech- nique uses visualization of the femoral head under fluoroscopy in a posterior-anterior projection.…”