The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a thrombin-containing bandage for local hemostasis after femoral sheath removal in patients undergoing diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Forty-one patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography using a 6-F femoral sheath were included. The sheath was removed immediately after the procedure using the bandage according to a prespecified protocol. Mean compression time was 7.3+/-1.7 min and mean time from sheath removal to mobilization was 132+/-34 min. None of the patients suffered recurrent bleeding or any in-hospital and 7-day vascular complications. We conclude that in patients undergoing femoral-access diagnostic cardiac catheterization, the use of a hemostatic bandage containing thrombin was associated with short time to hemostasis with the ability for early patient mobilization without vascular complications.