critical care medicine
How To Do Femoral Vein Cannulation
Equipment for Femoral Vein Cannulation
Antiseptic solution (eg,chlorhexidine-alcohol,chlorhexidine, povidone iodine, alcohol) Sterile drapes (large), towels Sterile head caps, masks, gowns, gloves Face shields Cardiac monitor Local anesthetic (eg, 1%lidocainewithoutepinephrine, about 5 mL) Small anesthetic needle (eg, 25 to 27 gauge, about 1 inches [3 cm] long) Large anesthetic/finder* needle (22 gauge, about 1.5 inches [4 cm] long) Introducer needle (eg, thin-walled, 18 or 16 gauge, with internally beveled hub, about 2.5 inches [6 cm] long) 3- and 5-mL syringes (use slip-tip syringes for the finder and introducer needles) Guidewire, J-tipped Scalpel (#11 blade) Dilator Central venous catheter (adult: 8 French or larger, minimum length for femoral catheter is 24 cm) Sterile gauze (eg, 4 × 4 inch [10 × 10 cm] squares) Sterile saline for flushing catheter port or ports Nonabsorbable nylon or silk suture (eg, 3-0 or 4-0) Chlorhexidinepatch, transparent occlusive dressing * A finder needle is a thinner needle used for locating the vein before inserting the introducer needle. It is not typically used but is optional (eg, in obese patients) for femoral vein cannulation. Having an assistant or two is helpful. 