Perforating arteries of the thigh: An anatomical and radiological study.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to advance the understanding of the anatomy of the perforating branches of the profunda femoris artery to facilitate the avoidance of iatrogenic injury in surgery around the thigh and ensure safe percutaneous embolisation. METHODS: Dissection was carried out on seven cadavers, examining the relationship of the point of origin of the perforating branches of profunda femoris, relative to lines connecting palpable bony landmarks (lines A and B). These were compared with 16 computed tomography angiograms (CTA). Left to right variation within subjects and variation between the dissection and imaged group was examined. The anatomy of the two groups was then compared with that described in anatomical textbooks. RESULTS: The side to side variation in number of perforators was not significant in the dissection (P = 0.20) nor the CT group (P = 0.70). Similarly, the point of origin of the perforating vessels along lines A and B did not demonstrate any significant difference except for the fourth perforator along line B (P = 0.03). There was no significant difference in points of origin along line B between the dissection and CT groups for the first four perforators on the left (P = 0.51, P = 0.80, P = 0.66, P = 0.09 respectively) and right (P = 0.79, P = 0.45, P = 0.56, P = 0.11 respectively). The number and distribution of perforators were then compared with commonly used anatomical texts. CONCLUSION: As in other parts of the body, textbook descriptions of anatomical structures may not be reflected consistently in vivo. However, the perforating branches of the profunda femoris demonstrate a predictable topographical relationship to palpable bony landmarks.

Complications and great escapes: equipment and techniques.

All endovascular procedures have the potential for complications. The primary aims should always be avoidance of preventable complications and to minimize the impact of any complication. The core principles of an effective preventive strategy are: involving the interventional and clinical teams in a clear outline of the procedure and its potential adverse outcomes; ensuring an adequate inventory of required and backup equipment; the use of "time-out" to minimize wrong patient/wrong side adverse events; and an active audit program to identify areas of improvement. In the event of an adverse outcome there are many strategies that can be employed to rectify the situation or minimize the iatrogenic injury. This article provides a case-based discussion highlighting some of these techniques and how they can be used in a clinical setting.