BACKGROUND: Despite all advances in interventional cardiology, vascular complications remain relatively frequent and its contemporary predictors are not well studied. The current investigation was designed with the aim of evaluating the incidence and predictors of vascular complications after percutaneous coronary interventions performed by the femoral approach. METHOD: Between December 2005 and December 2006, 383 consecutive patients were submitted to percutaneous coronary interventions using the femoral approach and were clinically monitored for the detection of in-hospital vascular complications. RESULTS: Vascular complications occurred in 6.5% of the patients and pseudoaneurism was the most frequently observed complication (2.6%). The independent predictors of vascular complications in the present study were female gender (odds ratio= 5.61; 95% CI= 1.99 - 15.76) and the use of abciximab (odds ratio= 3.02; 95% CI = 1.10 - 8.26). Vascular closure devices were the only independent protectors against vascular complications (odds ratio= 0.36; 95% CI = 0.12 - 0.99), specially when used in men. CONCLUSION: Vascular complications remain relativelly frequent after percutaneous coronary interventions. The contemporary predictors of these complications are female gender and the use of abciximab, while vascular closure devices act as independent protector against them, specially in men.
Angioplasty, transluminal, percutaneous coronary, adverse effects; Risk factors; Vascular diseases, etiology; Heart catheterization, adverse effects; Blood vessels, injuries
