Effectiveness of a Pneumatic Compression Device and Coagulation-Fibrinolytic Factors on Hemostasis of the Femoral Artery after Cardiac Catheterization

The effectiveness of a pneumatic femoral artery compression device, FemoStop, was evaluated in 102 patients with ischemic heart disease, 50 of whom underwent diagnostic coronary angiography (CAG) with a 6-French catheter, and 52 of whom underwent perctaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with an 8-French catheter. A secondary objective was to clarify the relationship between hemostasis time and coagulation-fibrinolytic factors. The time required to achieve hemostasis with this device was 24. 1±10 (mean±SD) minutes in patients undergoing CAG and 56. 5±23. 3 minutes in patients undergoing PTCA. In patients undergoing CAG neither activated clotting time (ACT) nor coagulation factors differed significantly between those in whom hemostasis was achieved within the protocol time (20 minutes) and those in whom it was not. However, in patients undergoing PTCA ACT was longer and levels of coagulation factors were lower in those in whom hemostasis was achieved within the protocol time (40 minutes) than in those in whom it was not. These results suggest that hemostasis time is affected by the positioning and the pressure in the bubble of the pneumatic compression device as well as by hematological factors, such as coagulability and ACT.