Key result
Erect vascular pedicle width is linked to body weight, while azygos width lacks anthropomorphic correlation.
Why the study?
The normal ranges and physiological variations of vascular pedicle width and azygos vein width in healthy subjects and cardiac patients were not fully characterized.
Cross-Sectional (n=125)
Vascular pedicle width correlates with patient physique and can be estimated by inspection, whereas azygos width requires serial changes for clinical evaluation.
Supports body-weight adjustment for vascular pedicle width on erect radiographs; extends normative data while leaving azygos utility to serial evaluation.
The widths of the systemic vessels extending from the thoracic inlet to the heart (the vascular pedicle) and of the azygos vein were measured in 83 normal volunteers and 42 patients with cardiac disease. Mean vascular pedicle width ( VPW ) (erect) was 48 +/- 5.0 mm and correlated well with body weight (r = 0.64) and surface area (r = 0.62). Rotation to the left reduced VPW and to the right increased it. Inspiration and expiration caused little change. The supine VPW increased an average of 20% (47 +/- 37% to the compliant venous right side and 7 +/- 48% to the less compliant arterial left). Supine azygos width (AW) increased 105 +/- 47%. Mean erect AW was 5.14 +/- 1.36 mm. AW did not correlate significantly with anthropomorphic characteristics. Because VPW correlates with the patient's physique, its normality can be estimated within clinically useful limits by inspection. Since AW has no such correlation, serial changes are of more value than initial absolute values.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Milne et al. (1984) conducted a cross-sectional in Normal volunteers and cardiac disease (n=125). Vascular pedicle and azygos vein width measurement was evaluated on Vascular pedicle width (VPW) and azygos width (AW). Mean erect vascular pedicle width was 48 ± 5.0 mm and correlated with body weight (r=0.64), whereas mean erect azygos width was 5.14 ± 1.36 mm and lacked anthropomorphic correlation.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: