BackgroundAccidental puncture of the vertebral arteries (VAs) can occur through the internal jugular veins (IJVs) during central venous catheterization (CVC). We evaluated the anatomic relation of the VAs to the IJVs in children undergoing IJV cannulation.MethodsFifty-five patients were placed in the supine position under general anesthesia. The right IJV, common carotid artery (CCA), and VA were described with an ultrasound probe perpendicular to all planes of the skin at the mid-portion between the suprasternal notch and mastoid process. The depth from the skin to VAs (D), width of the VAs (W), and distance from the IJVs to VAs (DIV) were measured. The extent of overlap between the IJVs and VAs was classified into overlapping, partially overlapping, and nonoverlapping. The risk was scored as 0–3 for each measurement. The scores were added and categorized into a low-risk group (L), 0–3, moderate-risk (M) group, 4–7; and high-risk (H) group, 8–10.ResultsMean (sd) age was 20.3 (33.9) months, height was 72.1 (26.0) cm, and weight was 8.9 (9.0) kg. The mean D, W, and DIV were 15.1 (3.3), 2.8 (1.1), and 4.6 (1.8) mm, respectively. Of the 55 patients, 7 were in group H, 33 in group M, and 15 in group L.ConclusionsSeven of the 55 children were categorized under the H group for accidental puncture of the VAs. Thus, it is important to identify the presence of the VAs to avoid accidental puncture during pediatric CVC.

Background and Aims:Left double-lumen endobronchial tube (DLT) sizes are selected using tracheal diameters and left mainstem bronchial diameters (LMBDs) determined from chest radiographs or computed tomography (CT) scans. In Western women, 35-Fr or 37-Fr DLTs are often selected. However, difficulties can be encountered when inserting 32-Fr or 35-Fr DLTs in Japanese women. We investigated success rates for 32-Fr or 35-Fr DLT insertion in Japanese women and determined the causes of unsuccessful DLT insertion.Methods:We searched anaesthesia records of Japanese women aged ≥20 years who underwent thoracic surgery with 32-Fr or 35-Fr DLTs between April 2010 and March 2015 in our hospital. In the successful group (SG), patients were intubated using the initially selected DLTs. By contrast, in the unsuccessful group (UG), the DLT size had to be changed. The Mann–Whitney U-test and Fisher's exact test were used to compare groups.Results:The SG included 149 (96.1%) of 155 cases of 32-Fr DLT use and 119 (95.2%) of 125 cases of 35-Fr DLT use. Patient height was significantly lower in the UG than in the SG for the 35-Fr DLT (P = 0.0036). In seven of 12 UG patients (three for 32-Fr and four for 35-Fr), the transverse diameters of cricoid cartilages were smaller than the DLTs' tracheal diameters, thereby preventing passage through the cricoid cartilages.Conclusion:Along with LMBDs, transverse diameters of cricoid cartilages based on CT scans or ultrasonogram findings may help in selecting the appropriate left DLT size.

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To confirm the insertion of dilators into veins in children, we recommend that longitudinal images of the guidewires should be initially acquired.

Pediatric central venous catheter (CVC) placement is useful but associated with complications such as cardiac tamponade. We aimed to identify risk factors for death in cardiac tamponade. Published articles on pediatric CVC-associated cardiac tamponade were obtained by searching PubMed and Google and retrospectively reviewed to analyze risk factors for death. Factors examined for their effect on mortality risk included patient age, weight, CVC size, days from CVC insertion to tamponade occurrence, substances administered, insertion site, treatment, CVC material, and initial CVC tip position. Of 110 patients reported in 62 articles, 69 survived and 41 died. Among survivors, 55 of 69 patients were treated; among deaths, only 7 of 38 (OR 537.9, 95% CI 29.3-9,877, p < 0.0001). Multiple regression analysis in 44 cases showed that treatment (p < 0.0001) and initial CVC tip position (p = 0.020) were independent predictive factors related to improved cardiac tamponade survival. Past studies have mainly discussed how to avoid pediatric cardiac tamponade; by contrast, the present study focused on how to avoid deaths. The findings of this review suggest that cardiac tamponade survival is better when tamponade is detected early and treated promptly and might be affected by initial CVC tip position.