St. Jude Medical has introduced a device that quickly closes a puncture in the femoral artery and requires little or no manual compression. Utilization of this device allows a patient to avoid 4 to 8 hours of lying flat in bed while keeping the affected leg motionless. The cardiac-cath team used one of these devices on my leg, and aside from a small bump that was barely noticeable, I suffered no ill effects and was on my way home hours before I had planned to be.
The Angio-Seal Device is made of three components: a small anchor, collagen and a suture. The “Official Journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions, Feb 2003;58(2)p.181-4” contains an article designed for medical professionals further detailing the proper use of this device.
The Angio-Seal Device is placed in your artery and sealed shut. The area is then covered with a sterile bandage. The patient should plan on at least an hour recovery time in the hospital following the seal’s placement. The nurses need to assess if the seal is working and if any allergic reactions occur.
A patient will receive a card to carry for 90 days after the implantation of the device. You must notify your physician of use of this device if any other surgery is performed in the same area within 90 days.
There are possible side effects and the patient’s activity is limited for several days after the device is used. Quite frankly the mere thought of your femoral artery bleeding will keep most patients sitting down.
I never thought my first experience with collagen would be in my leg. I was amazed by this invention and thrilled I was spared spending 4-6 hours with a clamp on my groin area. Within 60-90 days, the anchor and suture will naturally be absorbed by the body. I have not noticed anything at all since several days after the device was used. This medical advance has made my life easier . It is not often that the general public can easily see the end result of medical research.
