Duplication of femoral vein and its significant clinical implications

Introduction The femoral vein accompanies the femoral artery, beginning at the opening in adductor magnus as the continuation of the popliteal vein, and ending at the level of inguinal ligament, by becoming the external iliac vein. In the lower part of the adductor canal it is posterolateral to the femoral artery; in the upper part of the canal, and in the lower part of the femoral triangle, it is behind the artery. At the base of the femoral triangle it is medial to the artery. The femoral vein has numerous muscular tributaries. The deep femoral vein joins the femoral vein posteriorly 4–12 cm distal to the inguinal ligament, and the great saphenous vein then enters anteriorly. Lateral and medial circumflex femoral veins are usually tributaries of the femoral vein [1]. The complex embryologic development of the vascular system often results in a myriad of clinically relevant variants. It has been stated that the classic anatomic venous pattern in the lower extremity is found in only 16 percent of patients [2]. The femoral region of the thigh is utilized for various clinical procedures, both open and closed, particularly with respect to arterial and venous cannulations. Venous pattern particularly in the lower limbs is of great clinical importance, while ligating the veins to prevent the spread of deep vein thrombosis [3]. Femoral vein catheterization is the easiest and safest method for obtaining temporary vascular access in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, an attempt has been made to report the case of duplication of femoral vein and elaborate its embryological and clinical aspects.