title: [Ultrasound evaluation of the anatomical relationships between common carotid arteries and internal jugular veins in children].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Relationships between common carotid arteries (CCA) and internal jugular veins (IJV) have been investigated both in adults and children. Overlapping of CCA and IJV are reported in 70 to 90% of cases; however we seldom observe overlapping cases in children. We evaluate the relationships between CCA and IJV in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 100 children below 60 months undergoing tracheal intubation for general anesthesia were enrolled. The width of the CCA (AW), IJV (VW), and the distance from the internal edge of the CCA to the outer edge of the IJV (DAV) were measured using an ultrasound apparatus. The overlapping ratio was calculated as (AW + VW--DAV)/DAV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean (S. D) age was 15.5 (16.0) months, height was 70.8 (16.4) cm, and weight was 7.6 (3.8) kg; the AW was 4.4 (0.8) mm, and the VW was 7.4 (2.2) mm. The percentage of non-overlapping of CCA and IJV was 66.2% and overlapping less than 10% was 92%. The overlapping more than 20% was only in 3%. Puncturing the CCA did not occur.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There appears to be little danger of puncturing the CCA during internal jugular venipuncture from the viewpoint of anatomical relationships between the CCA and IJV
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Kyushukoseinenkin Hospital, Kitakyushu 806-8511.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kayashima
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sozen
mesh_terms: D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018962:Phlebotomy; D014463:Ultrasonography