Ultrasound-guided compression closure of postcatheterization pseudoaneurysms during concurrent anticoagulation: a...

Data from our institution and elsewhere have demonstrated that ultrasound-guided compression closure (UGCC) is an effective method of treating postcatheterization pseudoaneurysms. Whereas patients receiving anticoagulation do not have as high a success rate as those not receiving anticoagulants, there have been no large series evaluating the factors associated with success or failure in patients receiving anticoagulation. The purpose of this study is to determine whether uninterrupted anticoagulation interferes with successful UGCC of pseudoaneurysms and to identify factors associated with success or failure.

From May 1991 to September 1994, 238 cases of attempted UGCC of pseudoaneurysms were performed in our vascular laboratory. Only patients who received uninterrupted heparin, warfarin, or both at the time of pseudoaneurysm compression were eligible for inclusion into the study. Seventy-seven patients were identified who met the study criteria.

Successful pseudoaneurysm compression was obtained in 56 (73%) patients, whereas 21 (27%) patients had a failed UGCC. In the successfully treated group, seven (12.5%) required between two to three compression attempts to induce sustained thrombosis. There was no statistical difference in age, sex, sheath size, days after procedure, location of pseudoaneurysm, or number of chambers in the pseudoaneurysm between those patients who had a successful repair and those who did not. If the pseudoaneurysm was less than 4 cm in diameter, 51 of 65 patients (78%) had a successful repair compared with 5 of 12 patients (42%) with a pseudoaneurysm of 4 cm or greater (p = 0.013). There was no statistical difference between success and failure in patients receiving warfarin alone (3.73 mean international normalized ratio, 72% success rate), heparin alone (mean activated partial thromboplastin time of 63 seconds, 92% success rate), or heparin and warfarin (mean activated partial thromboplastin time of 70 seconds, mean international normalized ratio of 4, success rate of 67%). No arterial or venous thrombosis occurred during pseudoaneurysm compression.

Successful UGCC of pseudoaneurysms occurred in a large percentage of patients receiving full-dose, uninterrupted anticoagulation. The only factor influencing success was the size of the pseudoaneurysm.