Ultrasonographic evaluation of the femoral vein in anaesthetised infants and young children.
We investigated the cross-sectional area of the femoral vein and its relationship to the femoral artery at two anatomical levels, in infants and children. Sixty-six subjects were allocated to one of two groups: infants (< 1 year, n = 31) or children (1-6 years, n = 35). After induction of general anaesthesia, the femoral vein was evaluated by ultrasound with the patients' legs at 30° and 60° of abduction and their hips externally rotated. In each position, measurements were taken at the level of the inguinal crease and 1 cm below the crease. Hip rotation with 60° leg abduction decreased femoral artery overlap at the level of the inguinal crease in both infants (p = 0.013) and children (p = 0.003). Thus, the optimal place for femoral vein cannulation in paediatric patients seems to be at the level of the inguinal crease with 60° leg abduction and external hip rotation.
Suk
E H
EH
Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine, Asan Medical Centre, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
K-Y
KY
Kweon
T D
TD
Jang
Y-H
YH
Bai
S J
SJ
D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology; D000768:Anesthesia, General; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D012399:Rotation; D014463:Ultrasonography