How long does it take for a hematoma from a catheterization procedure in the groin to be fully absorbed by the body?

From the Guidelines

A hematoma from a catheterization procedure in the groin can take around 2 months to be fully absorbed by the body, with 90% of small pseudoaneurysms resolving within this timeframe 1. When considering the absorption of a hematoma after a catheterization procedure, several factors come into play, including the size of the hematoma and whether the patient is on antithrombotic therapy.

• Small hematomas, particularly those less than 2.0 cm in diameter, tend to heal spontaneously and usually require no treatment, with collective data indicating that 61% of such pseudoaneurysms resolve within 7 to 52 days of observation 1.
• The spontaneous closure rate of selected pseudoaneurysms that were not repaired immediately shows that 90% of these resolve within 2 months, suggesting a conservative management approach for small asymptomatic pseudoaneurysms is reasonable 1.
• It's essential for patients to monitor for signs of complications, including increasing pain, swelling, redness, warmth, fever, or expansion of the bruise, which would necessitate immediate medical attention.
• The body's natural healing process involves specialized cells called macrophages breaking down the collected blood, with the components gradually being reabsorbed into the bloodstream and eliminated, a process that can be supported by rest, ice application in the initial 24-48 hours, and possibly warm compresses thereafter to increase blood flow and speed healing.

From the Research

Absorption of Hematoma after Catheterization

• The time it takes for a hematoma from a catheterization procedure in the groin to be fully absorbed by the body is not directly stated in the provided studies.
• However, a study on the femoral neuralgia syndrome after arterial catheter trauma 2 mentions that the neuralgia gradually improved in 6 weeks to 1 year in most patients, which may indicate the timeframe for the absorption of a hematoma.
• Another study on bleeding complications of femoral catheterization 3 found that CT scans contributed to treatment in all patients by helping indicate the need for more intensive monitoring and by helping predict the potential need for surgery, but it does not provide information on the absorption time of hematomas.
• A study on maintenance of hemostasis after invasive cardiac procedures 4 investigated the efficacy of different methods of arterial puncture site management, but it does not provide information on the absorption time of hematomas.
• A study on groin hematoma after electrophysiological procedures 5 found that any hematoma presenting immediately after procedures was associated with patient-reported hematomas after 14 days, but it does not provide information on the absorption time of hematomas.
• Overall, the provided studies do not offer a clear answer to the question of how long it takes for a hematoma from a catheterization procedure in the groin to be fully absorbed by the body, as they focus on different aspects of catheterization complications, such as incidence, predisposing factors, and treatment 6, 5, 2, 3, 4.