The relationship between the common femoral artery, the inguinal crease, and the inguinal ligament: a guide to accurate angiographic puncture.

The variability of the extraperitoneal puncture space between the inguinal ligament and the inguinal crease was evaluated in 100 patients. The distance between the inguinal crease and the inguinal ligament varied from 0 to 11 cm (average 6.7 cm +/- 1.9 SD), the average value for women (7.5 cm +/- 1.9 SD) being significantly greater than that for men (6.3 cm +/- 1.9 SD, p = 0.0128). The bifurcation of the common femoral artery was found below the inguinal crease in 20%, at the same level in 3.5%, and above it in 76.5% of cases. Consideration of these results will help avoid intraperitoneal puncture and improve the rate of successful antegrade puncture of the femoral artery.