Measurement of the vena cava at postmortem examination, from the upper end of the superior vena cava via the right atrium to the lower end of the inferior vena cava

Abstract

This report describes the length of the entire vena cava in Japanese subjects. This length is important for the use of the new intravenous oxygenator (IVOX). The IVOX is used as an intravascular artificial lung. Situated in the vena caval system, IVOX extends from the upper end of the superior vena cava via the right atrium to the lower end of the inferior vena cava. It was first reported by Mortensen (1987) and has been used clinically in the United States and Europe. The IVOX has four sizes, which range in length from 30 to 40 cm. When using the IVOX for Japanese subjects, a vena cava size that accommodates the IVOX should be chosen. We measured the length of the entire vena cava in 34 cases at postmortem examination. These lengths varied from 30 to 46 cm. The calculated average caval distance was 37 cm with a standard deviation of * 4 cm. Among three corporal indexes of weight, height, and body surface area, the most significant statistical correlation was between vena cava length and patient height. The regression equation for this is as follows: Y = -13.0 + 0.31 x X, where Y is predicted length of the vena cava (cm), and X is patient height (cm). This finding should serve as a relatively simple means for calculating the length of the entire vena cava, and it should be useful in clinical practice with the IVOX in Japan.

Left‐sided and duplicate inferior vena cava: A case series and review

“…The caliber of selected vessels was measured at the following standardized points: the left renal vein between the superior mesenteric artery and midsagittal abdominal aorta; the IVC 1 cm above the renal veins and at three sites below to calculate a mean infrarenal caliber (1 cm below, 1 cm above its origin, and at mid infrarenal level); and both common iliac veins at their narrowest point (for the left‐sided IVC) or approximately 1 cm below the aortic bifurcation (for duplicate IVCs). Unlike the length of the adult vena cava, the diameter of the IVC shows no correlation with age, height, or weight (Takayama et al, ; Mandelbaum and Ritz, ) and so caliber measurements did not need to be scaled to these individual parameters. Venous caliber is affected by circulating volume and phase of respiration, but CT scans used in this study were obtained using a standardized respiratory protocol.…”

Theoretical Analysis of the Effect of Positioning on Hemodynamic Stability During Pregnancy

“… The average normal IVC diameter is about 1.7 cm and decreases to about 1.2 cm after a half‐liter of acute blood loss 19 The length of the IVC is about 37 cm 20 There is a progressive increase in weight of the gravid uterus and fetus from 1.3 kg at 20 weeks of gestation, to about 4.2 kg at term 4,21 …”