Angio-seal is a bioabsorbable medical device that dissolves in the body in approximately 60-90 days
Angio-seal is a bioabsorbable medical device used to reduce bleeding in patients who have undergone angiographic or interventional procedures. Angio-seal dissolves in the body in approximately 60-90 days.
What is Angio-Seal used for?
Angio-Seal vascular closure is used to reduce bleeding at the femoral arterial puncture site (arteriotomy) in patients who have undergone the following:
- Diagnostic angiography
- Endovascular procedures
- Interventional procedures such as:
- Cardiac catheterization (a procedure to examine various functions of the heart through the insertion of a catheter)
- Coronary angioplasty or percutaneous coronary intervention (a procedure to widen blocked or narrowed coronary arteries)
- Neuroangiography or cerebral angiography (a procedure that uses a special dye and X-rays to analyze blood flow through the brain)
Certain factors lead to a risk of complications after these surgical procedures, such as:
- Advanced age
- Diabetes
- Peripheral arterial disease
- Inherited or acquired coagulation disorders
- Antiplatelet medications
- Presence of an in-dwelling sheath for an extended period of time
How does Angio-Seal work?
Angio-Seal is used immediately after the catheter is removed. Bioabsorbable components that are responsible for sealing the artery (with a minimum diameter of 4 mm) include:
- Anchor: An intra-arterial dissolvable component is inserted in the vessel wall or artery with the help of an insertion sheath, an arteriotomy locator (modified dilator), and a guide wire.
- Sponge: An absorbable collagen is placed on the outer side of the artery. This plug is sandwiched between the arterial wall and puncture site by traction.
- Absorbable positioning Dexon suture or a stitch: This helps clinch the anchor and sponge or collagen together to form a seal, which stops bleeding and promotes the artery healing process.
The implanted device gets absorbed by the body and takes up to 90 days to dissolve, which can be confirmed by an ultrasound.
What are the advantages of Angio-Seal?
Angio-Seal is an implantable device that has been increasingly used as an alternative to manual compression because it appears to:
- Reduce time to ambulate
- Facilitate rapid hemostasis
- Improve patient comfort
- Be comparatively cost-effective
- Be safe and efficient
- Decreased the time needed for complete bed rest
- Help in quick recovery
Different brands of Angio-Seal available include:
- Angio-Seal VIP
- Angio-Seal EVOLUTION
- CELT ACD
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What complications are associated with vascular closure devices?
The risk-to-benefit ratio usually favors the use of vascular closure devices in potentially fatal or lifestyle-limiting cardiac disease in certain patients. The majority of complications occur within the first 30 days after the procedure and may include:
- Infection
- Hematoma formation (abnormal accumulation of blood outside of a blood vessel)
- Arterial thrombosis (arterial blood clot)
- Pseudoaneurysm (piercing the wall of a blood vessel due to an artery injury)
- Intravenous fistula formation (abnormal connection between an artery and a vein)
- Rectal peritoneal hemorrhage
- Arterial limb ischemia
- Vessel occlusion
- Distal emboli
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Nerve injury
Although complications cannot always be avoided, risks can be reduced by careful patient selection and attention to detail during the procedure.
When to contact a doctor
Patients should consult their doctor immediately if they notice the following symptoms:
