BACKGROUND: To determine anatomo-surgical parameters to fast, safe and precise approach to the basilic vein in the arm distal third and to assess anatomic features related to the presence, and nerve sintopy in the region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was made in 15 human corpses, from male adults aged 27 up to 58 years old, summing up 30 upper limbs, fixed in 10% formalin. It was created a trigonometric method using anatomic parameters to determine a triangle which apex was the reference point to locate the basilic vein in the arm distal third. The region was dissected, the vein exposed, its diameter assessed with a caliper. The method was utilized to perform the basilic vein dissection in 15 patients that required the venous approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The basilic vein was found in the medial surface of arm distal third in all studied cadavers. The vein was located on the triagle apex in 70% of the cases (87% of the right and 53% of the left upper limbs). In 30% of the specimens the vein was placed medially to the triangle apex, the distance did not exceeded 5mm. In 83,33% of the specimens there were branches of the medial cutaneous nerves of arm and forearm against the vein adventitia. It was found two branches of the medial cutaneous nerves of arm and forearm related to each basilic vein in the majority of the upper limbs (90% - 27 limbs) and only one branch in the remaining (10 % - 3 limbs). In 30% of the cases there were branches located behind the basilic vein, this fact must be considered when the basilic vein dissection is made. The proposed method to the basilic vein location showed to be fast, safe and precise, indicating that the method is a good option to the vascular approach in patients in critical conditions that demand this procedure.
Veins; Forearm; Surgery
