Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) Practice Test

If a patient complains of pain down the leg when attempting to cannulate the right femoral artery, in which direction should you move the needle?

1. Lateral

2. Medial

3. Superior

4. Inferior

The correct answer is: Medial

When attempting to cannulate the right femoral artery, if the patient experiences pain radiating down the leg, it is important to consider the anatomy of the femoral artery and the surrounding structures. Moving the needle medially is the correct approach in this scenario. The femoral artery is located in the groin region and is generally closer to the midline of the body than to the lateral side. If you encounter pain while cannulating and suspect that the needle has impacted a structure or is in proximity to a nerve or other sensitive anatomy, moving the needle medially can often alleviate the discomfort. This adjustment also decreases the risk of piercing the surrounding vessels or nerves, particularly those that run laterally to the artery, which could account for the pain the patient is feeling. Moving laterally may increase the risk of damage to nerves or encountering other complications, while superior and inferior movements could lead to complications with other vascular structures or diverting away from the target site entirely. Thus, adjusting the needle medially helps align better with the anatomical position of the femoral artery and reduces the likelihood of causing further discomfort to the patient.