Case-control study of postprocedural arterial puncture site hemorrhage after neuroendovascular treatment

Puncture site hemorrhage following femoral artery catheterization is a significant cause of morbidity. The aim of this case-control study was to identify predictors of postprocedural arterial hemorrhage at the puncture site. We retrospectively reviewed 255 patients who underwent endovascular treatment at our institution over a 23-month period and classified them into a hemorrhage group and a non-hemorrhage group. Puncture site hemorrhage occurred in 15 patients (5.9%). Clinical factors associated with a significantly increased risk of puncture site bleeding included patients whose postoperative activated clotting time of >= 300 seconds before removal of the sheath (9 patients, 11.8%; P<0.05), those who received triple antiplatelet therapy (n=4, 17.4%; P<0.05) and the group administered heparin postoperatively (7 patients, 13.2%; P<0.05). The effects of low on-treatment platelet reactivity, i.e., P2Y12 reaction units <95%, sheath size, hemostasis method used, and operating time were not clinically significant. Our findings suggest an increased risk of puncture site hemorrhage in patients who either bad an activated clotting time >= 300 seconds before the postoperative removal of the sheath, had received triple antiplatelet therapy, or were administered heparin postoperatively.