title: Common femoral artery anatomy is influenced by demographics and comorbidity: implications for cardiac and peripheral invasive studies.
abstract: We assessed the angiographic size of the common femoral artery (CFA) and the influence of demographics and comorbidites. In addition, the location of the CFA bifurcation and the site of femoral puncture were also assessed. Consecutive CFA angiograms (n = 200) were prospectively analyzed. CFA diameter was 6.9 +/- 1.4 mm and length 43.3 +/- 16.2 mm. By multivariate analysis, only diabetes (P < 0.001), female gender (P < 0.0005), and small body surface area (P < 0.01) predicted small vessel size. Vessel length correlated with patient height (P < 0.0005). CFA bifurcation occurred at or below the femoral head center in 98.5%. The femoral puncture was into a vessel other than the CFA in 13%, and 54% of punctures were in a less than ideal anatomical location. In conclusion, the CFA is a relatively small diameter vessel, particularly in diabetics and women. Puncture above the femoral head center and below the superior margin of the acetabulum accurately predicts an ideal puncture site. Thus, routine fluoroscopic guidance should be considered. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2001;53:289-295.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, UCSD Medical Center, University of California, 200 West Arbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92103, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schnyder
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sawhney
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Whisenant
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsimikas
authors.forename: Z G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Turi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D015897:Comorbidity; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors