Femoral Arterial Puncture: Comparison of Using the Inguinal Crease and Bony Landmarks

PURPOSE: We tried to compare the accuracy of using bony landmarks and inguinal crease landmarks for performing femoral artery puncture and to determine an ideal puncture site. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied ninety consecutive patients who underwent femoral arterial puncture for performing angiogram. For the evaluation of bony landmarks, the pelvis and inguinal areas were divided into 8 zones according to 7 lines that were drawn parallel to the line drawn between the anterior superior iliac spine and the pubic tubercle. For evaluation of the inguinal crease as a landmark, the 8 zones above and 4 zones below the inguinal crease were determined. The zones were divided by 11 lines drawn parallel to the inguinal crease, and the interval between each line was 1cm. Locations of the inguinal ligament and femoral bifurcation were recorded for every patient according to the above zones, and an ideal zone for the femoral arterial puncture was decided upon. The ideal zone was considered if the locations of all of inguinal ligaments were above the zone and the least possibility to puncture was below the femoral bifurcation. RESULTS: On the bony landmark, the femoral bifurcations were located at zone 3 in 1 patient (1.1%), at zone 4 in 2 patients (2.2%), at zone 5 in 3 patients (3.3%), at zone 6 in 24 patients (26.7%), and at zone7 in 44 patients (48.9%). Inguinal ligaments were at zone 1 in 2 patients (3.0%), at zone 2 in 34 patients (50.7%), at zone 3 in 25 patients (37.3%), and at zone 4 in 6 patients (8.9%). When the inguinal creases were used as a landmark, the femoral bifurcations were located at zone 4 in 4 patients (4.4%), at zone 3 in 19 patients (21.1%), at zone 2 in 30 patients (33.3%), at zone 1 in 19 patients (21.1%), at zone -1 in 13 patients (14.4%), at zone -2 in 3 patients (3.3%) and at zone-4 in 2 patients (2.2%). Inguinal ligaments were at zone 8 in 7 patients (10.4%), at zone 7 in 11 patients (16.4%), at zone 6 in 19 patients (28.4%), at zone 5 in 20 patients (29.9%), at zone 4 in 7 patients (10.4%), and at zone 3 in 3 patients (4.5%). Therefore, the best zone for femoral arterial puncture was zone 5 with using bony landmarks and zone 2 with using inguinal crease landmarks. In terms of zone 5 on the bony landmark, every locations of inguinal ligaments was above it and 84 patients (93.4%) had their femoral bifurcation below it, excluding the 6 patients who had their femoral bifurcations at zones 3, 4, and 5. Therefore, zone 5 with using the bony landmarks was a good indicator for femoral arterial puncture. In case of zone 2 on the inguinal crease landmark, although every location of the inguinal ligament was above it, 53 patients (58.8%) had their femoral bifurcation above it at zones 4, 3, and 2. So, it was not a good indicator for femoral arterial puncture. CONCLUSION: Bony landmarks are more accurate indicators for performing femoral arterial puncture than the inguinal crease landmark. Zone 5 on the bony landmark is an ideal location for femoral arterial puncture.

Effect of Intracavitary Injection of Urokinase in the Experimentally Induced Early Pyogenic Liver Abscess of the Rabbit

This study was carried out to assess the effects of intracavitary injection of urokinase in the early liver abscess (ELA) of the rabbits. ELAs were induced on 25 in 47 New Zealand rabbits, which were divided into two groups, with 15 in group A, and 10 in group B. Urokinase was injected into the ELA of group A, and normal physiologic saline into those of group B. One and a half hours after the injections, the rabbits were sacrificed and evaluated by pathologists for the degree of fibrosis of the ELA wall, and fibrinolysis in the ELA itself. Statistical analyses were performed between the two groups. The following ELA sizes for each group were obtained: Group A, 4.3 X 2.9-10.1 X 7.2 mm (mean 7.1 X 4.1 mm); Group B, 4.6 X 2.7-15.0 X 9.7 mm (mean 8.5 X 4.57 mm). Eleven (73%) in group A showed grade II fibrosis of ELA wall, and 8 (80%) in group B showed grade III fibrosis of ELA wall (p=0.002). On pathological analysis, 5 (46%) in group A showed grade II fibrin, and 8 (80%) in group B showed grade III fibrin, of the ELA (p=0.09). In conclusion, injection of urokinase, into the ELAs, can reduce the degree of fibrosis of abscess walls.

Benign Mass-like Lesions Associated with Chronic Tuberculous Empyema: CT Findings in 9 Patients

PURPOSE: To present CT findings of benign mass-like nodular lesions associated with chronic tuberculousempyema. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the CT scans of nine patients with mass-like lesions associated with chronic tuberculous empyema, which were pathologically (operation=4, US-guided biopsy=3) or clinically (n=2) confirmed as benign lesions. Shape, number, size, presence of calcification and enhancement pattern of mass-like lesions were assessed. RESULTS: In all patients, chest CT showed unilateral calcified pleural thickening, with mass-like nodular lesions. Fluid within the pleural cavity was observed in eight patients. CT findings of mass-like lesions were multiple and nodular (n=9). Calcification was demonstrated within the lesions in four patients. In each case, the size of the largest nodules was 1-3cm in diameter. In contrast, CTshowed mild (n=6) to moderate (n=2) enhancement compared with adjacent muscles. The pathologic results ofmass-like lesions were chronic inflammation (n=3) and necrosis (n=4). CONCLUSION: Benign mass-like lesions associated with chronic tuberculous empyema appeared as multiple nodules varying in size from 1 to 3cm in diamter, with slight enhancement.