Measurements of central blood vessels in infants and children: normal values.

In order to provide physicians interpreting vascular radiographic studies with normal data regarding central blood vessel size in children and to facilitate the design and adaptation of intravascular devices for pediatric use, we measured lengths and diameters of central blood vessels in 141 radiographic studies in 136 children. The diameters of the following vessels were determined: right and left internal jugular veins and common carotid arteries; the inferior vena cava and the descending thoracic aorta; right and left iliac veins; and right and left femoral veins and arteries. In addition, the lengths of the inferior vena cava and the descending aorta were also determined. Blood vessel dimensions were highly correlated with age, height, weight, and body surface area. The linear regression equations for each measured dimension against age, weight, height, and surface area are provided, along with a table of predicted vessel size as a function of age.