(Last Updated - 4/15/2007)
-Palpate the femoral arterial pulse just medial to the sartorius muscle ~2 fingerwidths below the inguinal ligament
-The femoral vein lies just medial to the femoral artery
-Remember the pnemonic - NAVEL (from lateral to medial):
-Nerve (femoral nerve)
-Artery (femoral artery)
-Vein (femoral vein)
-Empty space
-Lacunar ligament
-With your left hand index and middle fingers, isolate the femoral pulse and pull it laterally under the sartorius muscle exposing the femoral vein
-Enter with the needle raised ~15-30 degrees off the patients leg and aim cranially
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References:
1) Netter FH. Atlas of Human Anatomy: 2nd Edition. Novartis. East Hanover, NJ. 1999. Plate 466.