About Vascular Sealing

Cardiologists and radiologists commonly diagnose and treat blocked arteries by threading a small tube (catheter) through the skin (percutaneously) and into an artery until they reach the blockage, which can be removed, held open with a stent or treated surgically. More than 8 million percutaneous procedures are performed annually.

To gain access to the arterial system, a tube-like introducer sheath is inserted in the femoral artery located in the upper thigh/groin area. After completion of the procedure, the sheath is removed. Because the procedure involves the puncture of a major artery, it can be difficult to control bleeding.

Often, the puncture site is managed by conventional means, referred to as manual compression. This involves pressing firmly on the puncture site or applying a C-clamp until the bleeding stops. The patient is then restricted to bed rest, usually between 4 and 24 hours, while healthcare professionals carefully monitor the patient.

Because this is inefficient and can be painful, many physicians prefer to use a vascular sealing device, including our Duett Pro. Another approach is to use a topical hemostatic patch, such as our D-Stat Dry, as an adjunct to manual compression.