Analysis of the Common Femoral Artery and Vein: Anatomical Morphology, Vessel Relationship, and Factors Affecting Vessel Size.

Sang-Hun Lee,Woo Ik Choi,Sang Chan Jin,Dong Uk Yu,Jae Ho Lee,Jae-Cheon Jeon,Tae Kwon Kim

doi:10.3390/medicina58020325

Sang-Hun Lee, Woo Ik Choi + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58020325

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Abstract

Background and Objectives: We aimed to analyze the morphology of the common femoral artery (CFA) and common femoral vein (CFV) and the anatomical relationship between the two blood vessels, and to investigate the factors that influence the size of these blood vessels. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 584 patients who underwent abdominal and pelvic computed tomography from 1 February to 28 February 2021. We measured the vessels at three regions on both lower extremities (inguinal ligament, distal vessel bifurcation, midpoint) and analyzed and classified the degree of overlap between the CFA and CFV into three types, as well as the factors affecting vessel size. Results: After comparing the femoral vessels according to location, it was confirmed that the CFA and CFV were larger distally than proximally on both sides (p < 0.001). The degree of overlap increased distally (p < 0.001) but was less at the middle (p < 0.001) and distal (p = 0.011) regions on the right side. It was found that the size of CFA and CFV were related to age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) and that malignancy also affects the CFA size. Conclusions: The morphology of the CFA and CFV was conical and increased distally. The degree of overlap between the two blood vessels also increased distally but was less on the right than on the left. Age, sex, and BMI are significant factors affecting the sizes of the CFA and CFV, and malignancy is associated with the CFA size.

Highlights

Aside from transporting blood, the common femoral artery (CFA) and common femoral vein (CFV) act as conduits for resuscitative fluids, blood products, drugs, total parenteral nutrition administration, vascular intervention procedures, such as endovascular procedures or cardiovascular interventions, and mechanical extracorporeal therapies, such as renal replacement therapy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [1,2]
We investigated the anatomical morphology of the CFA and CFV according to subdivided regions in patients who underwent abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (APCT) and evaluated the factors affecting their size
Reesssuelltscalcification (5.8%), and 208 (34.3%) with short CFA or CFA could not be divideDduriinngtothegsrtuaddyepser(iFodig, 1u19r0ep1at)i.ents underwent APCT; 606 patients were excluded from the study due to predetermined criteria, including 25 (4.1%) younger than 18 years, 271 with missing data (44.7%), 41 with previous operations in the abdominal or pelvic area (6.8%), 23 with poor diagnostic images (3.8%), 3 with peripheral vessel disease (0.5%), 35 with severe vessel calcification (5.8%), and 208 (34.3%) with short CFA or CFA that could not be divided into grades (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Aside from transporting blood, the common femoral artery (CFA) and common femoral vein (CFV) act as conduits for resuscitative fluids, blood products, drugs, total parenteral nutrition administration, vascular intervention procedures, such as endovascular procedures or cardiovascular interventions, and mechanical extracorporeal therapies, such as renal replacement therapy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [1,2]. Both the CFA and CFV have few mechanical side effects and are accessible, so they are often used in critical care patients [3,4,5]. Clinicians are encouraged to be aware of the patient’s ideal anatomical vessel location, which can be useful in invasive procedures using CFA and CFV. The CFA is located on the lateral side of the CFV, and the degree of overlap between the two blood vessels increases as they course distally from the inguinal ligament [6]. We measured the vessels at three regions on both lower extremities (inguinal ligament, distal vessel bifurcation, midpoint) and analyzed and classified the degree of overlap between the CFA and CFV into three types, as well as the factors affecting vessel size. Sex, and BMI are significant factors affecting the sizes of the CFA and CFV, and malignancy is associated with the CFA size

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