A simple method of measuring thoracic aortic pulse wave velocity in children: methods and normal values.

Background: The objective of this study was to define a simple method of measuring thoracic aortic pulse-wave velocity (PWV) using only an aortic length regression equation based on the subject's height and two pulsed Doppler recordings of the aorta.

Methods: The thoracic aortas of 80 subjects (age range, 0-20 years) were measured retrospectively by direct echocardiographic visualization. A simple linear regression equation for thoracic aortic length on the basis of height was derived.

Patients' willingness to allow residents to learn to practice medical procedures.

Purpose: Consent for teaching procedures has been the focus of ethical discussion recently. Patients may consent to a procedure but be unaware that the procedure is to be performed by a resident, perhaps for the first time. In such cases, patients have not specifically consented to the practice of teaching medical procedures.