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Antegrade puncture of the femoral artery: morphologic study
A M Spijkerboer1, F G Scholten, W P Mali
1Department of Radiology, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Insights
The femoral head is a reliable landmark for optimal antegrade common femoral artery puncture. This anatomical finding aids in guiding vascular access procedures safely and effectively.
Area of Science:
- Vascular anatomy
- Interventional radiology
Background:
- Antegrade puncture of the common femoral artery is a common vascular access technique.
- Identifying the optimal puncture site is crucial for procedural success and minimizing complications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the optimal anatomical landmark for antegrade common femoral artery puncture.
- To evaluate the relationship between the common femoral artery, femoral head, and inguinal ligament.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of three cadaver specimens.
- Computed tomographic (CT) scans of 50 patients were analyzed.
- Assessment of anatomical relationships using imaging and cadaveric dissection.
Main Results:
- The center of the femoral head was consistently located caudal to the inguinal ligament.
- The center of the femoral head was consistently located cranial to the common femoral artery bifurcation.
- The femoral head serves as a consistent anatomical reference point.
Conclusions:
- The femoral head is a reliable landmark for antegrade common femoral artery puncture.
- This anatomical knowledge can improve the safety and efficacy of vascular access procedures.
- CT imaging aids in defining precise anatomical relationships for interventional guidance.
Abstract:
To determine the optimal site for antegrade puncture of the femoral artery, the authors evaluated three cadaver specimens and computed tomographic (CT) scans of 50 patients. The relationships among the common femoral artery, the femoral artery bifurcation, the center of the femoral head, and the inguinal ligament were evaluated. CT showed that the center of the femoral head was always located caudal to the level of the inguinal ligament but cranial to the bifurcation of the common femoral artery. Therefore, the femoral head seems to provide a reliable landmark for entering the common femoral artery.