Two-dimensional and color Doppler ultrasound analysis of vertebral artery in pilot cadets
- Author:
Shu-ping LIU
1
Author Information
1. Medical Examination Team, General Hospital of Airforce
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Pilots;
Ultrasonography;
Vertebral artery
- From:
Medical Journal of Chinese People's Liberation Army
2012;37(4):326-329
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To investigate the development of vertebral artery in the 2010 enrolled pilot cadets, and provide a foundation for introducing vertebral artery ultrasound examination into inclusion criteria. Methods The ultrasound findings of the vertebral artery in 722 pilot cadets, including its origin, shape, diameter and hemodynamic patterns, were retrospectively reviewed by two-dimensional and color Doppler ultrasound. The proportion of its congenital dysplasia was calculated and summarized. Results Among the 722 pilot cadets, both the inner diameter of the initial segment (D1) and the intervertebral segment (D2) of left vertebral artery were wider than the right one (3.624±0.017mm vs 3.489±0.018mm, 3.623±0.018mm vs 3.438±0.019 mm, P<0.05). The peak systolic velocity of the intervertebral segment in left vertebral artery (Vmax) was found to be faster than the right (53.547±0.412cm/s vs 48.463±0.405cm/s, P<0.05). The diameter of vertebral artery ranged from 2.5mm to 3mm accounted for 17.5% and that less than 2.5mm accounted for only 6.9%. Narrow caliber of the artery was more common in the right vertebral artery (16% vs 8.3%, P<0.05). In 24 persons only the course of arteries on both sides appeared abnormal, accounting for 3.3%, including 19 cases with abnormal course only and 5 cases with both abnormal origin and course. There was no significant difference between left and right in the 19 cases with shape abnormality only (P>0.05). Among 5 persons showed both abnormal origin and shape, there were 2 cases in whom there was also small caliber. Conclusions Multiple congenital dysplasia of vertebral artery was found in pilot cadets. The ultrasonography examination of vertebral artery should be included in the selection criteria for pilot cadet enrollment as early as possible.
