Vascular Complications after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Following Hemostasis with the Mynx Vascular Closure Device Versus the AngioSeal Vascular Closure Device
Shah Azmoon, MD, Anthony L. Pucillo, MD, Wilbert S. Aronow, MD, Ramin Ebrahimi, MD*, Joseph Vozzolo, MD, Archana Rajdev, MD, Kumar Kalapatapu, MD, Jae H. Ro, MD, Craig Hjemdahl-Monsen, MD
ABSTRACT: We investigated the prevalence of vascular compli-
90%.1–3 They have been indicated as a safe alternative to manual
cations after PCI following hemostasis in 190 patients (67% men and
compression with a procedure-related mortality of < 0.5%.4
33% women, mean age 64 years) treated with the AngioSeal vascular
VCDs have been shown to carry significant advantages over the
closure device (St. Jude Medical, Austin, Texas) versus 238 patients (67%
current gold standard of manual compression for achieving
men and 33% women, mean age 64 years) treated with the Mynx vas- cular closure device (AccessClosure, Mountain View, California). Results.
homeostasis following percutaneous vascular procedures. In mul-
Death, myocardial infarction or stroke occurred in none of the 190
tiple studies, VCDs have been shown to decrease the time to am-
patients (0%) treated with the AngioSeal versus none of 238 patients
bulation as well as hospital discharge with improved
(0%) treated with the Mynx. Major vascular complications occurred
post-procedure patient comfort when compared to manual com-
in 4 of 190 patients (2.1%) treated with the AngioSeal versus 5 of 238
pression.1–3 However, the use of VCDs is not without risks.
patients (2.1%) treated with the Mynx (p not significant). Major vas-
Complications of VCDs can include minor bleeding with
cular complications in patients treated with the AngioSeal included re-
hematoma formation as well as major bleeding such as retroperi-
moval of a malfunctioning device (1.1%), hemorrhage requiringintervention (0.5%) and hemorrhage with a loss of > 3g Hgb (0.5%).
toneal hemorrhage, pseudoaneurysm formation, arteriovenous
The major vascular complications in patients treated with the Mynx
fistulas, thromboembolic events or device malfunction requiring
included retroperitoneal bleeding requiring surgical intervention
surgical intervention.5 With increased use of antithrombin and
(0.8%), pseudoaneurysm with surgical repair (0.8%) and hemorrhage
dual antiplatelet regimens in recent years, the most common
with a loss of > 3g Hgb (0.4%). These complications were not signif-
complications of bleeding have been noted to be as high as 9%
icantly different between the two vascular closure devices (p = 0.77).
post PCI.3,5,8 Moreover, the risk of complications can also be de-
Minor complications included hematoma > 5 cm (0.5%, n = 1) within
pendent on the severity of an individual patient’s procedural
the AngioSeal group, as well as procedure failure requiring > 30 min-utes of manual compression after device deployment, which occurred
risks such as obesity, high arteriotomy site, procedure duration,
in 7 out of 190 patients (3.7%) treated with the AngioSeal versus 22
and bleeding diathesis as well as the different closure mechanisms
of 238 patients with the Mynx (9.2%) (p = 0.033). Conclusions.
which are inherent to each type of VCD.5,8,9
Major vascular complications after PCI following hemostasis with vas-
Development of VCDs began in the mid-1990s and the An-
cular closure devices occurred in 2.1% of 190 patients treated with the
gioSeal VCD (AngioSeal, St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, Minnesota)
AngioSeal vascular closure device versus 2.1% of 238 patients treated
was one of the forerunner VCDs for percutaneous arteriotomy
with the Mynx vascular closure device (p not significant). The Mynxvascular closure device appears to have a higher rate of device failure.
closure. Despite numerous upgrades, the AngioSeal VCD hascontinued to be one of the most widely used VCDs using an
anchor-arteriotomy-collagen sandwich to achieve femoral access
Key words: vascular closure device, Mynx, AngioSeal, hemorrhage,
hemostasis supplemented by the coagulation-inducing proper-
percutaneous coronary intervention, pseudoaneurysm
ties of its collagen sponge.6,7 More recently, a new VCD (Mynx,AccessClosure, Mountain View, California) has been developed
Vascular closure devices (VCDs) are commonly used in pa-
which uses an extravascular polyethylene glycol sealant that ex-
tients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In
pands several times its original size upon contact with blood
most instances, success rates for femoral access hemostasis exceed
and subcutaneous fluids to seal the arteriotomy, and is eventu-ally hydrolyzed. Limited data exist on the safety and efficacy of
From New York Medical College, Department of Cardiology, Macy Pavilion, Val-
the Mynx VCD in comparison to more commonly used VCDs.
halla, New York and *UCLA, Department of Cardiology, Los Angeles, California.
We sought to evaluate vascular complications after PCI with
The authors report no conflicts of interest regarding the content herein. This
the Mynx VCD versus one of the more common VCDs used
study was funded internally by NYMC without any outside grant, contracts, orfinancial support. A scientific session travel stipend for abstract presentation
at our institution, the AngioSeal VCD.
Manuscript submitted November 20, 2009, provisional acceptance given
December 2, 2009, final version accepted January 18, 2010.
Address for correspondence: Shah Azmoon, MD, New York Medical Col-
From January, 2008 to September, 2008, patients who pre-
lege, Department Cardiology, Macy Pavilion, 95 Grasslands Road, Valhalla, NY,10595. E-mail: [email protected]
sented to our institution for diagnostic left-heart catheterization
Table 1. Baseline characteristics of patients with the AngioSeal
The primary endpoint was to evaluate the combined post-VCD
major vascular complication rates between the Mynx VCD andthe AngioSeal VCD during the index hospitalization. VCD com-
Variable AngioSeal p-Value
plications included retroperitoneal bleeding, a drop in hematocrit
requiring blood transfusion, hemorrhage requiring surgical inter-
vention, pseudoaneurysm formation necessitating surgical repair
and the need for surgical removal of a malfunctioning VCD device.
Secondary endpoints included minor vascular complication rates,
device failure and procedure failure. Minor complications included
hematoma > 5 cm, pseudoaneurysms treated with thrombin in-
jection or additional compression and AV fistula not requiring sur-
gical treatment. Device failure was defined as failure to deploy a
sealant/collagen plug with conversion to manual compression or a
C-clamp, and procedure failure was defined as successful deploy-
ment of the sealant/collagen plug with > 30 minutes of manual
Descriptive statistics (means and SD of continuous factors,
NS = non significant; BMI = body mass index
frequency counts and relative frequencies of categorical factors)were computed by closure type (manual, Mynx or AngioSeal)
(LHC) and underwent subsequent immediate PCI (including
and overall. For comparisons between the Mynx and AngioSeal
patients with acute coronary syndromes as well as those under-
groups and other categorical or limited ordinal groups, the
going elective PCI) were consecutively evaluated in a retrospec-
Fisher’s exact test, as well as the Pearson’s chi-square test, with
tive manner for concomitant immediate post-PCI use of the
and without Yates corrections, were evaluated (corrected for
Mynx VCD or AngioSeal VCD. Two hundred and thirty-eight
continuity in 2 x 2 tables). Analyses of the relationships between
patients in the Mynx group and 190 patients in the AngioSeal
the Mynx and AngioSeal characteristics by various groups were
group met our inclusion and exclusion criteria within these 9
performed using multilevel cross-tabulation tables to achieve
months and were included in this study. All patients underwent
chi-square values. For all analyses, the criterion for statistical
LHC and PCI within the same time period via the same op-
significance was set at p ≤ 0.05, two-tailed.
erator using standard techniques and using a 6 French (Fr)arterial sheath size. Anticoagulation after sheath insertion was
accomplished using intravenous unfractionated heparin to
We investigated the prevalence of vascular complications
achieve a target activated clotting time (ACT) of 200–300
after PCI following hemostasis in 190 patients (67% men and
seconds. All patients were pretreated with 325 mg of aspirin
33% women, mean age 64 years ± 11 years) treated with the
daily and loaded with 600 mg of clopidogrel (300 mg if pre-
AngioSeal VCD versus 238 patients (67% men and 33%
viously on a daily 75 mg dose of clopidogrel for > 7 days). In
women, mean age 64 years ± 11 years) treated with the Mynx
patients in whom arterial closure was contemplated, a femoral
VCD. Review of the baseline characteristics revealed no signif-
arteriogram was performed prior to VCD insertion, and place-
icant differences between the two groups (Table 1).
ment of either closure device was performed according to stan-
Death, myocardial infarction or stroke occurred in none of the
dard techniques. Femoral angiographic characteristics of VCD
190 patients (0%) treated with the AngioSeal VCD versus none
exclusion for all study patients included: 1) arteriotomy site
of the 238 patients (0%) treated with the Mynx VCD (p not sig-
above the inferior epigastric artery, 2) arteriotomy at or below
nificant). Major vascular complications occurred in 4 of 190 pa-
the common femoral bifurcation, 3) common femoral artery
tients (2.1%) treated with the AngioSeal VCD versus 5 of 238
of < 5 mm in diameter, and/or 4) extensive common femoral
patients (2.1%) treated with the Mynx VCD (p not significant).
artery calcification or significant plaque formation. Despite a
Major vascular complications in patients treated with the
long track record of AngioSeal VCD use at our institution, the
AngioSeal VCD included mechanical device failure requir-
type of arteriotomy closure was left to the discretion of the in-
ing surgical removal of the malfunctioning device (1.1%, n
terventionist, with a general predilection for Mynx VCD use
= 2), hemorrhage requiring surgical intervention (0.5%, n
when patients were likely to need repeat access or surgical inter-
= 1) and hemorrhage with loss of > 3 g of hemoglobin re-
vention within 1 month of VCD, mild peripheral vascular dis-
quiring blood transfusion (0.5%, n = 1).
ease, but precluding AngioSeal VCD use, as well as when patients
Major vascular complications in patients treated with the
revealed a significant concern for any discomfort. Hemostasis in
Mynx VCD included retroperitoneal bleeding requiring surgi-
the laboratory was achieved by the VCD followed by 2–5 min-
cal intervention (0.8%, n = 2), pseudoaneurysm requiring sur-
utes of manual pressure in all patients. Time to ambulation
gical repair (0.8%, n = 2) and hemorrhage with loss of > 3 g of
was 2 hours post-VCD placement and 4 hours after manual
hemoglobin requiring blood transfusion (0.4%, n = 1). These
complications were not significantly different between the two
Vascular Closure: Mynx Versus AngioSealTable 2. Major and minor complications in patients with the AngioSeal
and fellows including the Perclose VCD (Abbott Vascular,Redwood City, California), the Starclose VCD (Abbott Vascu-lar), the AngioSeal VCD, and more recently, the Mynx VCD. Complication AngioSeal p-Value
The AngioSeal VCD has been considered to be one of
the easier VCDs to master at our institution, with a fairlylong track record. Its disadvantage, like other VCDs, is that
its use is limited to access sites of 8 Fr or smaller. The col-
lagen anchor of the AngioSeal has been labeled as non-
thrombogenic; however, it has been reported to be a nidus
for thrombus formation. Furthermore, the interior anchor
also limits its utilization in the presence of severe peripheral
vascular disease or when the arteriotomy incision is at or
below the common femoral artery bifurcation.
The Perclose VCD uses an automated suture system for
complete tissue apposition and has the potential advantages
of leaving only a small amount of stitch within the vessel.
Repeat access can be immediate, and it is the only VCD
that can accommodate closure of arteriotomy incisions
greater than an 8 Fr size sheath. However, with device mal-function, it can result in the need for surgical intervention.
vascular closure devices (p = 0.77). Minor vascular complica-
The Starclose VCD uses a nitinol clip and has the advantage
tions included hematoma > 5 cm (0.5%, n = 1 vs. 0% n = 0; p
of being extravascular. The Starclose VCD also has the dis-
= NS) within the AngioSeal and Mynx cohorts, respectively.
advantage of its use being limited to the use of 8 Fr sheaths
Procedure failure, defined as successful deployment of the
sealant/collagen plug with more than 30 minutes of manual
Other devices have been developed that have their own in-
compression to obtain hemostasis occurred in 7 out of 190 pa-
herent limitations. However, unlike the more commonly used
tients (3.7%) treated with the AngioSeal VCD (average intra-
AngioSeal VCD at our institution, the Mynx sealant is unique
operative heparin dose 3,833 units) versus 22 of 238 patients
in that its polyethylene glycol polymer is delivered to the ex-
(9.2%) treated with the Mynx VCD (average intra-operative
travascular surface and is said to be bio-inert and to reabsorb
heparin dose 6,531 units); p = 0.033 (Table 2).
within < 30 days without scar formation, which can make re-gaining access at the same site less cumbersome for the oper-
Discussion
ators and less painful for patients. As an example, the
VCDs introduce a novel means for improving patient
AngioSeal VCD requires re-sticks to be attempted 1 cm above
comfort and accelerating ambulation after invasive cardio-
its anchor and 30 days after its original placement. However,
vascular procedures performed via femoral arterial access.
an original “high stick” can make a re-stick in such a case
The Mynx VCD is noted to decrease time to hemostasis
high-risk, and thus more likely lead to the avoidance of An-
and ambulation in comparison to manual compression and
gioSeal VCD use in such a case. We also did not measure pa-
no use of a VCD. In our study, major vascular complica-
tient discomfort in this study, however, our operators
tions after PCI following hemostasis with a VCD occurred
generally noted the least post-VCD inguinal discomfort with
in 2.1% of 190 patients treated with the AngioSeal VCD
the Mynx VCD. Furthermore, while we did not experience
versus 2.1% of 238 patients treated with the Mynx VCD (p
any VCD-related infectious complications in our study co-
not significant). The Mynx VCD did have higher rates of
horts, there does exist a small but important risk of VCD-re-
procedural failure in maintaining hemostasis. However, it was
lated infection.5 The Mynx product is also fairly new, and due
noted that the Mynx cohort also carried higher risks for
to its extravascular placement since the termination of this
bleeding. In a subanalysis of procedural failure patients, the
study, it has been occasionally used at our institution in pa-
Mynx patients had a higher body mass index (BMI 30 kg/m2
tients with mild peripheral vascular disease in which use of
for the Mynx VCD vs. a BMI of 24 kg/m2 for the AngioSeal
the AngioSeal VCD may have been felt to be limited. It has
VCD; p = 0.11), as well as use of higher doses of intravenous
also been used in the side wall (versus direct anterior) or below
heparin (average heparin dose in the Mynx group 6,500 USP
the common femoral artery bifurcation arterial puncture sites.
units vs. 3,833 USP units in the AngioSeal group; p = 0.21).
However, such potential uses of the Mynx VCD need to be
Furthermore, our center was an early adopter of the Mynx
further evaluated in larger randomized clinical trials.
VCD, and our data include7 the learning curve of initial use
Study limitations. This study was a retrospective evalu-
ation of patients undergoing two the use of different types
Since their inception in the 1990s, there have been several
of VCDs. Patients needing acute coronary intervention as well
VCDs used at our institution by our interventional cardiologist
as elective PCI were enrolled together. However, the milieu of
acute coronary syndromes may present different rates of VCD
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202. BEREAVEMENT AND DEPRESSION: magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) studies from our laboratory andothers revealed a distributed neural circuitry underlying spatial and IMMUNE CONCOMITANT non-spatial working memory processes. Accordingly, while posteriorcortical regions differentiated based on stimulus characteristics, dorso-S.E. Keller, S.J. Schleifer, J.A. Bartlett,lateral prefrontal regi
J O U R N A L O F P E S T I C I D E R E F O R M / S U M M E R 1 9 9 8 • V O L . 1 8 , N O . 2 ● I N S E C T I C I D E F A C T S H E E T PERMETHRIN The insecticide permethrin (in the synthetic pyrethroid family) is widely used on cotton, wheat, corn, alfalfa, and other crops. In addition, over 100 million applications are made annually in and around U.S. homes. Permethrin, like all