Common femoral arterial access and arteriography in infants: Principles, pearls, and pitfalls

Infant femoral arterial access is an essential part of interventional procedures, hemodynamic monitoring, and support of critically ill patients. Due to small luminal diameter, superficial location, mobility, and increased risk of vasospasm, dissection, and thrombosis, femoral artery access in the infant is a technically demanding procedure. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe an approach to successful common femoral arterial access and arteriography in infants including common pearls and pitfalls.