Postcatheterization femoral artery injuries: repair with color flow US guidance and C-clamp assistance.

Color flow ultrasound-guided compression repair of postcatheterization femoral artery injuries was attempted with the assistance of a C-clamp device in 10 patients. The C-clamp device was designed to hold the transducer in the optimal compression position and eliminate operator fatigue. In nine patients, the lesion was eliminated in a mean compression time of 59 minutes. The C-clamp maintained the transducer in an effective compression position in six procedures; in the other four, intervention to prevent slippage was required.