Access site management after aortic valvuloplasty using a suture mediated closure device: clinical experience in 4 cases.

Management of the femoral access site following percutaneous balloon aortic valvuloplasty is often associated with significant vascular morbidity. In an effort to reduce vascular complications, a novel method of suture mediated closure device deployment was employed in four patients that underwent aortic valvuloplasty at our institution. Delivery of the sutures to the access site took place prior to the intervention in all patients. This pre-close technique allowed the sutures to be placed utilizing the 10 French (Fr) closure device prior to expanding the access site to a 14 Fr size. This was done to facilitate adequate tissue capture, thereby assuring successful hemostasis following sheath removal. The technique was successful in all patients and none of the patients suffered vascular complications. This new access site management method was successful in achieving hemostasis and provided improved patient recovery in this small group of patients as compared to our usual experience.