Ultrasound Guidance Facilitates Ideal Femoral Puncture for Coronary Angiography

Procedural complications such as retroperitoneal bleeds and pseudoaneurysms are reduced when common femoral artery (CFA) is punctured above the bifurcation. Ultrasound (US) guidance is increasingly used for arterial access in coronary angiography (CA) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Studies have suggested that whilst US-guidance may improve catheterisation above CFA bifurcation, it also increases high punctures causing higher retroperitoneal haemorrhage rate. Our aims were to assess the effects of US-guidance on ideal femoral access and complications rates.