Assessment of anatomic variations of the brachial artery bifurcation using vascular Doppler ultrasound: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Anatomical variations in arteries of the upper limb, such as presence of an accessory brachial artery, are common and widely described in the literature, mainly in cadaveric studies, but it is now possible to diagnose them using vascular Doppler ultrasound. Objectives To identify the incidence of accessory brachial artery using vascular Doppler ultrasound and compare the findings with cadaveric studies. Methods This was a prospective study that examined 500 upper limbs of 250 volunteers assessed with vascular Doppler ultrasound using the Sonosite Titan portable ultrasound machine. Results 15.6% of the participants in our study had the accessory brachial artery anatomical variation. Our percentage is in line with the average rates found in cadaveric studies, which ranged from 0.2% to 22%. Being aware of this variation is fundamental in procedures such as peripheral venipuncture, arteriovenous fistula creation, catheterization, forearm flaps, emergency surgeries on the limb and even correction of fractures by cast. Conclusions The accessory brachial artery is a frequent variant in the upper limb. The percentage of individuals with an accessory brachial artery in our study was 15.6%, which agrees with data from the literature on cadaveric studies.