What is the largest size catheter that can be inserted into typical human femoral veins?

Question

French size or mm outer diameter

Answer 1

"French" units are just mm in circumfrence... this is interchangeable with diameter.

The issue with femoral cannulation isn't "what is the largest cannula that you can insert", the question should be what size is needed, and how big the patient is.

Cardiopulmonary bypass can be performed from the femoral artery and vein using 8mm diameter cannulas in adults. The entire flow to the body can be routed through this.

Introducer sheaths for angiographic catheters and instruments can be 10 fr., and introducer sheaths for things like Swan Ganz catheters can be up to the 9 fr. range.

For fluid infusion, high volume high rate optimization requires the shortest fattest tubing available. The MAC catheter which doubles for Swan Ganz introduction has the best flow at 9 french. There are larger tools available but these are for dialysis and have 2 large lumens, neither of which are as big as the MAC. The overall size of these large dual lumen dialysis catheters is in the 14 fr. range.

The question isn't "what is the largest size"... because you can cannulate with whatever will fit. The question is what size do you need, and why.

Answer 2

Huh. That's a good question. Of course, I used whichever catheter was in the kit at the time.

Being a podiatrist I always wanted to go for the femoral, of course. I know that anatomy like the back of my hand. However, subclavian lines have less clotting and infection complications. It's hard to do, but I was always worried about hitting something I shouldn't ( like a lung), even though if you insert the catheter properly you shouldn't.

Answer 3

I believe that 14 gauge is the biggest they use. You could probably fit a 12 or 10 if necessary (and if you could find one) but the friction loss over the length of the catheter would reduce the fluid output to about what the 14 allows anyway.

Answer 4

NO, they stick no longer something into your penis. The worst area of a vasectomy is merely before they commence the rfile provides you with a shot ideal interior the sac and that smarts like hell, and of direction there is a few soreness for some days in a while. the better area is not greater demanding approximately being pregnant ever returned.

Answer 5

9 F should fit into a femoral vein

Answer 6

I think it depends on the type or purpose of the catheter...we use 8FR introducers for femoral swan ganz caths and 6FR for fem temporary pacemakers.

Answer 7

That's pretty frightening that you would be directing this question to a bunch of strangers, many of whom believe in astrology but not in evolution.

Answer 8

7 Fr. is about all you'll ever want, though there's room to spare.