Femoral artery infection associated with a percutaneous arterial suture device.

This is a case report of a femoral artery infection with fatal outcome after using a percutaneous suture mediated closure device: A 77-year old patient underwent diagnostic angiography of his thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm, the puncture site was closed with the Perclose system. He developed a staphylococcal femoral artery infection with groin abscess, requiring surgical intervention with debridement and removal of the Perclose suture. After stent graft exclusion of the thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm a staphylococcal sepsis occurred and the patient died of aneurysm rupture months later despite long term antibiotic therapy. Since the use of the Perclose device carries an increased risk of femoral artery infection with septic endarteritis and bacteremia, it should not be used in routine diagnostic angiography.