Two-Device Closure Method for Large Diameter Arteriotomies in Percutaneous Endovascular Aortic Repair

Percutaneous endovascular aortic repairs (pEVARs) are associated with access site complications. Two-device technique using 2 Perclose devices has been well established. Combined Perclose and Angioseal technique has been described as well. We sought to determine whether a hybrid Perclose and Angioseal closure technique would safely and effectively establish hemostasis in large-bore arteriotomies up to 20F.

Patients were identified as candidates for percutaneous access based on preoperative computed tomography findings, perioperative ultrasound of femoral vessels, or a combination of the 2 modalities. Prior to sheath insertion, 1 Perclose device was predeployed. At the end of pEVAR, device sheath and introducer were withdrawn over a 0.035″ wire, and partially deployed Perclose was fully deployed. The sheath and introducer were fully withdrawn and the arteriotomy was closed with a 6F Angioseal vascular closure device and completion deployment of the Perclose. Patients were followed at day 1 and day 30 and at least 1 year postintervention.

A composite end point of complications was defined as an access site-related bleed or hematoma that required blood transfusion or an extended hospital stay, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, dissection, or retroperitoneal hematoma. The combined technique was initially successful in 44/45 arteriotomies (97.8%) in 24/25 patients (96.0%) with no conversions to cutdown. Sheath sizes ranged from 10F to 20F outer diameter (OD), with an average of 15.89F OD. The single-device failure was caused by a failure of the footplate to catch during deployment in the Angioseal with a 20F arteriotomy. Consequently, that was the only patient in which this closure was attempted for an arteriotomy larger than 19F. There were no early or late complications in this series.

Large-bore arteriotomies may be safely and effectively closed using a hybrid percutaneous closure technique for sheaths up to 19F OD. Evaluation of this technique in closure of large-bore arteriotomies is ongoing and further investigation is needed to assess the value of this closure in 20F OD sheaths and above.