Comparison of the Diameter, Cross-sectional Area and Position of the Left and Right Internal Jugular Vein in Adults Using Ultrasound

Placement of a central venous catheter (CVC) for surgery is used for hemodynamic monitoring and venous access. Most often the right internal jugular vein (RIJV) is used. The RIJV is preferred over the left-sided internal jugular vein (LIJV) because cannulation of the LIJV is more difficult and associated with a higher complication rate(1). A possible explanation for the higher complication rate can be explained by the difference in diameter between the RIJV and the LIJV. It has been demonstrated that large vessels are easier to catheterize than small ones.

Data suggest that the internal jugular veins are most often asymmetric but data are limited. Until now, there is one small prospective study in which 80 ICU patients where examined (30 patients were mechanically ventilated) which showed an asymmetry in 62,5% and a dominant RIJV in 68% and a smaller study performed by Lobato and colleagues in which 50 healthy patients were examined. They measured the cross-sectional areas of the internal jugular veins. They showed that in 80% the RIJV was greater than the LIJV. Two CT studies has been done so far. In 2009 Tartière and colleagues carried out an observational study in 190 patients. All patients were in the supine position, neutral head position an spontaneous breathing. During the CT patients were asked to hold there breath. The study showed that the diameter and cross-sectional area of the RIJV were significantly greater than those of the LIJV. A smaller retrospective CT-study (88 patients) performed by Lim et al in 2006 showed a larger RIJV in 79,5% compared to the LIJV.

Until now, there are no data known about the difference between the RIJV and LIJV in preoperative mechanical ventilated patients when ultrasound is used.