ABSTRACT
The femoral artery, a continuation of the external iliac artery, traverses beneath the inguinal ligament in the leg. It can be located at the midpoint of an imaginary line drawn between the anterosuperior iliac crest and the symphysis pubis. The femoral vein lies medial to the artery, and the femoral nerve lies lateral to the artery in the femoral sheath (Figure 74.6). The femoral artery is usually cannulated using a Seldinger technique. Advance a 20-or 21-gauge needle (6-7 cm in length) 2-4 cm through the skin overlying the point of maximal pulsation into the artery. Next advance a 0.035-cm sterile guidewire through the needle and, subsequently, an 18gauge catheter (16 cm) over the wire. Finally, suture the catheter to the skin and apply a sterile dressing. The femoral artery can also be cannulated using the direct method with an appropriate length angiocath.
