Angioseal versus manual compression for haemostasis following peripheral vascular diagnostic and interventional procedures--a randomized controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to compare the angioseal device to manual compression for femoral artery puncture following peripheral vascular procedures, in the context of day case vascular procedures. One hundred patients were prospectively randomised to haemostasis using the angioseal device or manual compression following arterial puncture for peripheral vascular diagnostic or intervention procedures. Data were collected regarding time to haemostasis and complications immediately post-procedure, at 1h, 2h and at 1 week. There were 50 patients in each group. There were no significant differences in demographic variables, or in complication rates immediately, at 1h, 2h and at 1 week (Chi-squared). The only significant difference between the two groups was time to haemostasis. The mean time to haemostasis in the compression group was 10.6 min and 2.0 min in the angioseal group (t-test p<0.0001). In conclusion, no significant differences in complications were found between manual compression and angioseal. However, there was a significant difference in time to haemostasis.