Korean J Anesthesiol.  2003 May;44(5):620-625. 10.4097/kjae.2003.44.5.620.

A New External-landmark Technique of Right Internal Jugular Vein Cannulation

• Kim GS
• Lee JJ
• Park HL
• Kim CS
• Cho HS
• Chung IS

• KMID: 1759979
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4097/kjae.2003.44.5.620

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Central venous cannulation is one of the important parts of anesthetic management. Because general anesthesia causes external-landmarks (e.g. sternocleidomastoid muscle, carotid artery pulse) indistinct, we developed a new external landmark for internal jugular vein cannulation that can be easily detected under general anesthesia.
METHODS
We cannulated the right internal jugular vein of 110 patients under general anesthesia. We used the external jugular vein and cricoid cartilage as a landmark.
RESULTS
Cannulation of the right internal jugular vein was successful in 108 out of 110 patients (98.2%). Patients required an average 1.48+/-0.63 attempts. There were 2 carotid punctures (1.8%), 3 discomforts (2.7%) and no brachial plexus irritation.
CONCLUSIONS
This new landmark technique has a high success rate and few complications.

Keyword

Central venous catheters; cricoid cartilage; external jugular vein; external landmark; internal jugular vein

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, General
Brachial Plexus
Carotid Arteries
Catheterization*
Central Venous Catheters
Cricoid Cartilage
Humans
Jugular Veins*
Punctures