1 Departments of Pediatrics and Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
A case of traumatic femoral arteriovenous fistula in a 3-year-old female is reported. The fistula is thought to have resulted from venipuncture at a level distal to the inguinal ligament where the femoral artery is immediately anterior to the vein.
This case emphasizes the importance of performing femoral venipuncture at a level near the inguinal ligament where the artery is lateral to the vein. Arteriovenous fistula is demonstrated to be a potential hazard of attempts at femoral venipunctures.