Diameter of the infrarenal aorta and the iliac arteries in children: ultrasound measurements.
BACKGROUND
In adults, the diameters of the infrarenal abdominal aorta and the iliac vessels on ultrasound (US) are known. Similar values have not yet been reported in children. The purpose of this study was to establish a nomogram for these diameters in children. Therefore, the aim is to delineate another factor to limit intraoperative graft lost.


METHODS
Studies were performed in 176 healthy children from 1 to 16 years of age. The diameters of the aorta and iliac arteries were measured by B-mode ultrasound at predefined sites. A correlation of the vessel diameter, age, gender, weight, height, body mass index, and body surface area (BSA) was performed.


RESULTS
At all measured points, vessel diameters were significantly (P<0.0001) larger in boys than in girls. There was a significant (P<0.0001) increase of all the vessel diameters over age in both sexes. Vessel diameters correlate positively with age, gender, weight, height, and BSA. The highest correlation was found to be with BSA (r > or = 0.8, P<0.0001). Nomograms for each arterial diameter could be established for males and females separately.


CONCLUSIONS
Normal US values of the diameter of the infrarenal aorta and the iliac vessels have been determined for children. The change in diameter strongly correlates with BSA. The nomograms can be of great help in the pretransplantation assessment of these vessels.
Munk
Anja
A
Department of Pediatric Radiology, University of Heidelberg, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Darge
Kassa
K
Wiesel
Manfred
M
Troeger
Jochen
J
D000293:Adolescent; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013599:Systole