[Is ultrasound guidance contributive to vascular access in endovascular therapy?].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of ultrasound guidance (UG) to vascular puncture in endovascular therapy. Ultrasound guidance was evaluated by comparison with the rates of failures and complications of the traditional techniques of percutaneous vascular access.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed all the consecutive percutaneous revascularizations (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and/or stenting, treatment of aneurysms and vascular traumatisms) since the standardization of the systems of closing (extra- and endovascular). The UG began in November 2011. The main objectives of the evaluation were the rate of failure of the punctures and the rate of complications (hematoma requiring transfusion or surgery for hemostasis, false aneurysm, dissection, thrombosis, infection). The failures and the complications were compared between two groups UG- and UG+.

Results: Between January 2008 and December 2014, 841 punctures were carried out by femoral route (85%), brachial route (12%), popliteal route (1%), axillary route (0.5%), and posterior tibial route (0.5%) with introducers between 4F and 12F. There were 20 complications (2.3%): six hematomas, four pseudo-aneurysms, three thromboses, one nervous paralysis, one stent infection, and seven percutaneous failures. The complications and the failures were significantly lower with ultrasound guidance (0.9% vs. 3.6%; P=0.02, and 0.2% vs. 1.4%; P=0.01, respectively).

Conclusion: Ultrasound guidance makes it possible to significantly decrease the rate of complications and failures of the percutaneous accesses. This tool allowed a clear increase in the realization of the percutaneous angioplasties in outpatient hospitalization.