title: Anatomy of femoral vessels in infants and guidelines for venous catheterization.
abstract: This study was performed to formulate femoral venous catheterization guidelines for infants from ultrasound observations. Femoral vessels were evaluated on both sides in 75 infants, 2 weeks to 24 months of age. The site of the greatest probability of successful venipuncture 1 cm below the skin crease at the groin is located 4 to 5 mm medial to the femoral artery pulse. If it is assumed that entry into the central half of the vein will result in successful catheterization, successive attempts 5 mm and 6 mm medial to the pulse would result in cumulative successful insertion in 53% and 61%, respectively, with no arterial punctures. A third attempt 4 mm medial to the pulse further increases cumulative success to 78%, but 3% arterial punctures would occur. These guidelines are intended to facilitate achievement of femoral venous catheterization, minimizing arterial punctures and number of needle passes required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Syracuse.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kanter
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gorton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tompkins
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D001815:Bloodletting / Q000379:methods; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000379:methods*; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011674:Pulse; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography