Predictors of successful iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm compression dressing repair.

BACKGROUND Complications to femoral artery puncture may result in formation of a pseudoaneurysm (PSA). We investigated whether PSA obliteration may be achieved by compression dressing repair (CDR) and sought to determine the predictors of successful CDR. METHODS Sixty two patients (30 male, mean age 61.0 +/- 12.8) with femoral PSAs due to cardiac catheterization were included in the study. In all patients, duplex ultrasound followed by CDR was performed to evaluate PSA morphology and flow velocities in the PSA neck. RESULTS Forty six (74.2%) patients did not respond to CDR. Predictors of successful CDR were forward [0.18 (0.07-0.47), p = 0.0004] and reverse [0.08 (0.02-0.33), p = 0.0006] flow velocities in the PSA neck. The forward velocity was identified as an independent predictor of CDR outcome (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Compression dressing repair may serve as an alternative method of femoral pseudoaneurysm management in patients with low forward and reverse velocities of the flow in pseudoaneurysm neck. The forward velocity is an independent predictor of compression dressing repair result.