Comparison of Two Percutaneous Femoral Closure Strategies During Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous closure of femoral arterial access is a critical step in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). A hybrid strategy combining a suture-based device (Perclose ProStyle) and a collagen-based device (Angio-Seal) has emerged as an alternative to the conventional double Perclose ProStyle technique.

AIMS: The objective of the study is to compare femoral vascular complications between a hybrid strategy (1 Perclose ProStyle+ 1 Angio-Seal) and a non-hybrid strategy (2 Perclose ProStyle) in a large single-center experience.

METHODS

This prospective, single-center, non-randomized study included 633 consecutive patients who underwent transfemoral TAVI at Timone University Hospital (Marseille, France) between November 2024 and March 2026. The choice of closure strategy was left to the operator's discretion. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of any femoral vascular complication (classified according to VARC-3 criteria).

RESULTS

A total of 273 patients underwent hybrid closure, and 360 underwent non-hybrid closure. The overall rate of vascular complications was 4.9% (31/633), with no significant difference between groups (hybrid 4.8% vs. non-hybrid 5.0%; p = 1.000). There were no differences in major VARC-3 complications (2.2% vs. 1.9%, p = 1.000) or minor complications (2.6% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.899). In univariate analysis, preprocedural dual antiplatelet therapy was the main predictor of overall complications, hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, and minor VARC-3 complications. Dialysis was associated with major VARC-3 complications.

CONCLUSION

The hybrid closure strategy (1 Perclose ProStyle + 1 Angio-Seal) demonstrates a vascular safety profile comparable to the conventional strategy (2 Perclose ProStyle) in transfemoral TAVI. Preprocedural antithrombotic therapy, rather than the closure device strategy, appears to be the main determinant of vascular complications.