Anatomical variations of femoral vessels

Femoral triangle is an important site for various clinical procedures. Knowledge about anatomical variations of femoral vessels is important to prevent inadvertent damage during surgical procedures and for successful arterial and venous cannulation. It is an incidental finding in which profunda femoris artery originated just 1cm below inguinal ligament from lateral aspect of femoral artery (FA) in left femoral region of a middle aged Sri Lankan man which was observed during routine dissection. It was observed that FA crossed superficially over femoral vein (FV) in upper part of femoral triangle and FV was lying deep to FA in most part of femoral triangle. FV catheterization is necessary when there is no visible peripheral vein for cannulation or when rapid access to a large vein is needed. Complications may arise from accidental puncture of neighbouring structures. Ultrasonography should be used particularly for more difficult femoral vascular access.