Anatomic evaluation of the height of the carotid bifurcation by 4th year medical students using vascular ultrasonography.

Background: The carotid bifurcation is known for its anatomical variations, involving structures that can be assessed by ultrasound examination. Knowledge of unusual anatomy is crucial in surgical procedures, directly influencing their outcomes.

Objectives: To assess whether fourth-year medical students with prior training are capable of performing ultrasound examinations to compare the height of the carotid bifurcation between men and women.

Methods: 602 carotid bifurcations from 301 participants were identified by ultrasound examinations conducted by medical students after prior training by a professional qualified in vascular ultrasound. After each examination, the results were verified by a specialist physician. Gender, age, and bilateral measurement of the distance between the carotid bifurcation and the ear lobe were compared.

Results: The students' measurements differed from the specialist physician's measurements by more than 0.2 cm in just 8 examinations. On the right side, the average height of the carotid bifurcation relative to the earlobe was 5.9 cm, compared to 5.8 cm on the left side, for the whole sample. The distance on the right side was significantly shorter among the women, with an average of 5.6 cm, compared to 6.3 cm among the men (p<0.0001). The distance on the left side was also significantly shorter in women, with an average of 5.4 cm, compared to 6.2 cm among the men (p<0.0001). The difference between sides was not statistically significant between the sexes.

Conclusions: After training, medical students demonstrate high accuracy in the technique of measuring the carotid bifurcation height using vascular ultrasound. Men showed a tendency for the bifurcations to be located farther from the earlobe compared to women.