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Catheter Placement in the Femoral Vein

Picture of how a catheter is placed in the femoral vein

Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com

For angiography, a thin, soft tube (catheter) is placed in a blood vessel in the groin (such as in the femoral vein). First, a doctor numbs the area with a local anesthetic. Then, a needle is placed into the blood vessel. A guide wire is put through the needle into the blood vessel and the needle is removed. The catheter is slid over the guide wire and moved into the blood vessel. The catheter is guided through the blood vessels until the tip is in the area to be studied.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Howard Schaff, MD - Diagnostic Radiology
Last Revised December 5, 2010

Last Revised: December 5, 2010

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Howard Schaff, MD - Diagnostic Radiology

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