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Optimizing safe femoral access during cardiac catheterization
Author(s) -
Spector Kenneth S.,
Lawson William E.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
catheterization and cardiovascular interventions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1522-726X
pISSN - 1522-1946
DOI - 10.1002/ccd.1150
Subject(s) - medicine , femoral artery , arteriotomy , deep femoral artery , femoral head , pubic symphysis , anterior superior iliac spine , aortic bifurcation , angiography , artery , anatomy , radiology , nuclear medicine , surgery , pelvis , aorta
This article describes the natural variability of femoral arterial anatomy as seen by angiography in a standard position. An analysis of 60 consecutive peripheral angiograms revealed data on average vessel diameter, variability in that diameter and the level of bifurcation of the common femoral artery into its two main branches. The statistical likelihood of optimal femoral arterial access through a standard dermotomy placed midway between, and 3 cm below, the imaginary line extending from the superior anterior iliac spine to the pubic symphysis was calculated. Our research disclosed average vessel diameters of 6.6 mm (3.9–8.9 mm), 5.2 mm (2.5–9.6 mm), and 4.9 mm (2.7–7.6 mm) for the common femoral artery, superficial femoral artery and deep femoral artery, respectively. The bifurcation of the common femoral artery into its branches averaged 5.5 mm below the inferior margin of the femoral head in most cases (76% of the time). In our laboratory, the average distance from the inferior border of the femoral head to our actual arteriotomy was 14.0 mm. Using our standard dermotomy, we achieved this favorable access position in 97% of cases. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;53:209–212. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.