Assesment of internal jugular vein diameters in Turkish adults

Abstract

Objective: As the internal jugular vein (IJV) is a vessel used for cannulation in central venous approaches in medicalapplications, knowledge of the anatomic details is significant for clinicians knowing that vascular diameter variesaccording to age and gender is an extremely useful data. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the rightand left side diameters of the internal jugular vein in normal adult Turkish population and to determine any relationshipbetween these diameters and age, gender and maneuver.Method: The study included a total of 140 patients. The maximal transverse and anterior-posterior diameters of theinternal jugular veins were measured on both sides, both with the patient at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver withUSG.Results: No statistically significant difference was determined in respect of diameter values above and below 60 years ofage(p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was determined between male and female genders in respect of all thediameter values (p<0.05) except LIJV in transverse diameter with valsalva .The right IJV diameter in both the transverseand anteroposterior sections were determined to be statistically significantly wider both at rest and during the Valsalvamaneuver (p<0.05).Conclusions: According to the results of this study, the right-side IJV diameter was found to be statistically significantlygreater than that of the left side in Turkish population. Valsalva effects, age and gender are non-effective on diameters.Distinguishing the diameters , surgical and interventional risks can be decreased.