"Blind" femoral angiography.

Analysis of a series of 352 femoral angiograms revealed that "blind" cannulation of the femoral artery distal to an occluded aorta or iliac artery is technically feasible in most patients. The vessel is usually patent even when the pulse is absent. Blind cannulation is not necessary for satisfactory peripheral angiography in all cases, but it is useful whenever visualization of the peripheral circulation is unsatisfactory following aortic injection. There were no apparent complications from the use of the technique.