Reference values of vessel diameters, stenosis prevalence, and arterial variations of the lower limb arteries in a male population sample using contrast-enhanced MR angiography

Abstract

IntroductionMorphological characterization of leg arteries is of significant importance to detect vascular remodeling triggered by atherosclerotic changes. We determined reference values of vessel diameters and assessed prevalence of stenosis and arterial variations of the lower limb arteries in a healthy male population sample.MethodsGadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography at 1.5 Tesla was performed in 756 male participants (median age = 52 years, range = 21–82 years) of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania. Vessel diameters were measured in 9 predefined segments of the pelvic and leg arteries and 95th percentiles were used for upper reference values of means of left and right side arteries.ResultsReference values of vascular diameters decreased from proximal to distal arteries: common iliac = 1.18cm; internal iliac = 0.75cm; external iliac = 1.03cm; proximal femoral = 1.02cm; distal femoral = 0.77cm; popliteal = 0.69cm; anterior tibial = 0.42cm; posterior tibial = 0.38cm; fibular = 0.40cm. Body-surface area indexed reference values increased with age in all segments. A number of 53 subjects (7.0%) had at least one stenosis, mainly in the lower leg arteries anterior tibial (n = 28, 3.7%), posterior tibial (n = 18, 2.4%) and fibular (n = 20, 2.6%). The risk of stenosis increased considerably with age (odds ratio = 1.08; p<0.001). The most common arterial variant was type I-A in both legs (n = 620, 82%).ConclusionWe present reference values for different pelvic and leg artery segment diameters in men that decrease from proximal to distal and increase with age. Stenoses were most prevalent in lower leg arteries and type I-A was the most common variant in the lower leg.

Assessing potential for aortoiliac vascular injury from venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulae: An in vitro particle image velocimetry study

“…At 17 Fr, this cannula is approximately 5.7 mm in diameter. The manufacturers of the silicone aortoiliac model stated that the diameter of the right common iliac artery is 11 mm, and the right external iliac and right common femoral arteries are 10‐11 mm (Elastrat, Geneva, Switzerland), similar to literature values of 11.8, 10.3, and 9.8 mm, respectively 16,17 . It is plausible that the 17 Fr cannula size was matched to its cannulated vessel in a way which facilitated less turbulent flow, and therefore, a more continuous jet stream which extended to the opposite aortic wall.…”

Ultrasound-guided arterial catheterization

“…The posterior tibial artery is a reasonable alternative to the radial artery for ultrasound-guided arterial cannulation in small children [ 8 ]. The diameter of the posterior tibial artery is 3.1 ± 0.4 mm [ 20 ] in adults and 1.4 ± 0.3 mm in children [ 8 ]. Its depth from the skin surface is 3.4 ± 1.2 mm in children [ 8 ], which is located deeper than other peripheral arteries.…”

“…There are two basic ultrasound-guided approaches: the short-axis view (SAX) out-of-plane approach and the long-axis view (LAX) in-plane approach. Moreover, some studies have proposed an oblique approach [ 20 , 33 ]. For radial artery cannulation, the currently available literature suggests similar success rates with either the SAX out-of-plane approach or the LAX in-plane approach in adults [ 34 – 36 ] and pediatric patients [ 37 ].…”

Impact of lower limb movement on the hemodynamics of femoropopliteal arteries: A computational study

“…An idealized model of the FPA was built as a cylinder with a diameter of 5.5 mm [21] and a length of 400 mm [22]. The vessel geometry was divided into three parts (Figure 1-A): (i) the proximal portion running parallel to the femur, corresponding to a segment of the superficial femoral artery (SFA); (ii) the central portion, representing the popliteal artery (PA); and (iii) the distal portion running parallel to the tibia, corresponding to the proximal tibial artery (TA).…”