Localization of the femoral artery bifurcation: hips don't lie – in at least 97% of cases

Abstract

Abstract Background The most common vascular access for structural cardiac interventions such as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is the common femoral artery (CFA). Depending on the procedure CFA puncture has to be performed not only unilaterally, but also bilaterally. Since incorrect localization of femoral access can lead to severe vascular complications, specific knowledge about the exact position of the CFA bifuraction is helpful. Such information might be systematically obtained from pre-TAVI CT scans. Methods We performed a retroperspective analysis of consecutive contrast-enhanced pre-TAVI CT angiography data sets (n=1000) to determine the CFA bifurcation localization relative to the femoral head and the correlation to contralateral CFA bifurcation location. Results The site of the CFA bifurcation was in 67.2% below the femoral head (−−), in 24.3% within the lower third of the femoral head (−), in 7.4% in the mid (0) and in 1.2% within the upper third (+) of the femoral head. Bifurcations above (++) the femoral head were not detected. CFA bifurcations below the femoral head showed the highest prevalence within men and women in all age groups (50–59, 60–69, 70–79, 80–89, 90–99 years). Bilateral agreement of CFA bifurcations was observed in only 69.3% and was independent of one-sided hip replacement (agreement 72.7%) or two-sided hip replacement (agreement 78.7%). A congruent contralateral left CFA bifurcation below the femoral head could be predicted in 80.6%, whereas CFA bifurcations within the lower and upper margins of the femoral head were congruent in only 65.7% (of these, 49.2% for the lower third, 29.7% for the mid and 36.4% for the upper third). Conclusion In conclusion, punctures within the upper third of the femoral head will provide an ideal puncture site in at least 97% of cases, independent of age, sex, or previous hip replacement. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.