Rare version of topography of deep femoral artery
The deep femoral artery is a large branch of the common femoral artery that is of much interest for vascular and endovascular surgeons due to the role it plays in collateral circulation between the vessels of the small pelvis and arteries of the popliteal-tibial segment. In most cases, the deep femoral artery branches off from the posterolateral or posterior surface of the common femoral artery. At the same time, anomalies of development of the deep femoral vessels may become the cause for iatrogenic damages in implementation of the open or endovascular interventions. In the article, a clinical case of a patient referred for a planned ultrasound examination of vessels of the lower limbs before angiographic examination of the vessels of the heart and of the lower limbs, is described that revealed atypical topography of branching of the two trunks of the deep femoral artery from the common femoral artery. The upper trunk of the deep femoral artery branched off from the anteromedial surface of the common femoral artery and in the initial part was positioned above the common femoral vein. The lower trunk of the deep femoral artery separated from the anterolateral surface of the common femoral artery. Preoperative identification of the variant anatomy of the vessels of the femoral triangle permitted to perform angiographic examination of the coronary vessels through the femoral artery on the contralateral limb without complications.