Effective diameter of the abdominal aorta in children.

PURPOSE: Measure out of the standard interval in the aorta diameter is a clue for aortic aneurysm or hypoplasia. Pediatric studies focusing specifically on the normal diameter of the abdominal aorta (AA) were limited in the literature. Therefore, the main goal of this work was to determine changes in the effective diameter of AA in healthy children aged 1-18 years for diagnosis of vascular diseases. METHODS: This retrospective work focused on abdominopelvic computed tomography views of 180 children (sex: 90 males / 90 females, average age: 9.50 ± 5.20 years) without any abdominopelvic disease to measure diameters of AA, common iliac artery (CIA), external iliac artery (EIA), and first lumbar vertebra (L1). RESULTS: Vessel and vertebra diameters increased in pediatric subjects between 1 and 18 years (p < 0.001). Considering pediatric age periods, vessel diameters increased steadily, but L1 diameter showed an irregular growth pattern between age periods. All parameters were greater in males than females (p < 0.05), except from effective diameters of AA over the coeliac trunk (p = 0.084) and over the renal artery (p = 0.051). The ratios of diameters of vessels to L1 increased depending on ages between 1 and 18 years. Considering pediatric age periods, the ratios increased from infancy period to postpubescent period in irregular pattern; however, the ratios for right and left CIA, and AA over the aortic bifurcation did not alter after late childhood period. All ratios for males were similar to females (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our age-specific ratios may be beneficial for surgeons and radiologists for the diagnosis of vascular disorders such as aortic aneurysm.

Transcatheter Arterial Embolization as Treatment for a Life-Threatening Retroperitoneal Hemorrhage Complicating Heparin Therapy

Spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage is a distinct clinical entity that can present in the absence of specific underlying pathology or trauma and is typically associated with anticoagulation therapy. We report a case of a 74-year-old female patient with a cerebral infarction related to atrial fibrillation who developed a spontaneous lumbar arterial hemorrhage complicating heparin therapy. The diagnosis was suggested by a computed tomography scan and confirmed by angiography. She was treated successfully with transcatheter embolization.

Niveles de bifurcación aórtica en individuos chilenos / Aortic bifurcation levels in Chilean individuals

Durante el abordaje anterior de la región lumbosacra de la columna vertebral es necesario considerar la disposición de los vasos relacionados, evitando así cualquier lesión en ellos. La información sobre la bifurcación de la aorta referida en los textos de anatomía señalan que ésta se realiza a nivel de la cuarta vértebra lumbar. Con el propósito de identificar el nivel de bifurcación de la aorta, realizamos un estudio de registros angiotomográficos obtenidos a través de tomografia axial computarizada de 74 pacientes chilenos, adultos, de ambos sexos, 40 hombres y 34 mujeres. El nivel de bifurcación fue relacionado con los componentes de la columna vertebral, dividiendo las vértebras en tercios. En 10 pacientes (13,5 por ciento) la bifurcación se observó a nivel de la parte inferior de L3; en 17 (23 por ciento) en la parte superior de L4; en 8 (10,8 por ciento) en la parte media de L4; en 26 (35,1) en la parte inferior de L4; en 9 (12,2 por ciento) en la parte superior de L5 y en 4 (5,4 por ciento) en la parte inferior de L5.Los resultados obtenidos muestran que en la mayoría de los individuos estudiados la bifurcación de la aorta se produce a nivel de L4, existiendo menores porcentajes hacia la parte cefálica o caudal de la vértebra mencionada. Esta relación es un aporte al conocimiento anatómico de los vasos abdominales de nuestra población.

During the anterior approach of the lumbosacral spine is necessary considerate the relationships with the vascular system to prevent injuries. The classic anatomy texts describe the aortic bifurcation to level of fourth lumbar vertebra. The objective of this research was determine this level in Chilean individuals. We studied the aortic bifurcation by axial computed tomography in 74 patients, Chilean, adults, of both sexes, 40 men and 34 women. The mentioned level was related with the lumbar vertebras, dividing its body in third parts. We observed the bifurcation at level of inferior third of L3 in 10 patients (13.5 percent); in the superior third of L4 in 17 (23 percent); in the middle third of L4 in 8 (10.8 percent); in the inferior third of L4 in 26 (35.1 percent); in the superior third of L5 in 9 (12.2 percent) and in the inferior third of L5 in 4 (5.4 percent). The results shown that in 2/3 of the cases the aortic bifurcation was to L4 level, being less frequent in proximal or distal vertebras. These relationships are important for the anatomical knowledge of the abdominal vascular system of our people.