Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-8zxtt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-12T10:58:38.438Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Ultrasound-guided cannulation of the internal jugular vein in critically ill patients positioned in 30° dorsal elevation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2004

J. Brederlau
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Würzburg, Germany
C. Greim
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Würzburg, Germany
U. Schwemmer
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Würzburg, Germany
B. Haunschmid
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Würzburg, Germany
C. Markus
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Würzburg, Germany
N. Roewer
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Würzburg, Germany
Get access

Abstract

Summary

Background and objective: Catheterization of the internal jugular vein is traditionally performed with the patient lying flat or in the Trendelenburg position. This puts patients with elevated intracranial pressure at risk of cerebral herniation. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of real-time ultrasound-guided catheterization of the internal jugular vein in ventilated patients with the patient positioned in a 30° head-up position.

Methods: This prospective, single-centre case series was performed in a 12-bed multi-disciplinary adult intensive care unit (ICU) in a 1500-bed university hospital. The cohort consisted of 64 ventilated ICU patients (14 female, 50 male) with a median age of 52 yr (range 18–85 yr), needing central venous cannulation for insertion of a central venous, haemodialysis or pulmonary artery catheter. The majority of patients presented with risk factors for a difficult cannulation. Catheterization was performed using real-time ultrasound guidance with all patients positioned in 30° dorsal elevation.

Results: Ultrasound-guided cannulation of the internal jugular vein was successful in all patients. There was no evidence of air embolism. Despite a high incidence of anomalous anatomy (39%) no injury to the carotid artery occurred. Central venous access was established in less than 1 min in 75% of patients.

Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided cannulation of the internal jugular vein in ventilated ICU patients can be performed successfully with the patient positioned in 30° dorsal elevation. Potentially deleterious position changes can thus be avoided in high-risk patients.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
2004 European Society of Anaesthesiology

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Armstrong PJ, Sutherland R, Scott DH. The effect of position and different manoeuvres on internal jugular vein diameter size. Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 1994; 38: 229231.Google Scholar
Bazaral M, Harlan S. Ultrasonographic anatomy of the internal jugular vein relevant to percutaneous cannulation. Crit Care Med 1981; 9: 307310.Google Scholar
Verghese ST, Nath A, Zenger D, Patel RI, Kaplan RF, Patel KM. The effects of the simulated Valsalva maneuver, liver compression, and/or Trendelenburg position on the cross-sectional area of the internal jugular vein in infants and young children. Anesth Analg 2002; 94: 250254.Google Scholar
Randolph AG, Cook DJ, Gonzales CA, Pribble CG. Ultrasound guidance for placement of central venous catheters: a meta-analysis of the literature. Crit Care Med 1996; 24: 20532058.Google Scholar
Keenan SP. Use of ultrasound to place central lines. J Crit Care 2002; 17: 126137.Google Scholar
Teichgraber UK, Benter T, Gebel M, Manns MP. A sonographically guided technique for central venous access. Am J Roentgenol 1997; 169: 731733.Google Scholar
Slama M, Novara A, Safavian A, Ossart M, Safar M, Fagon JY. Improvement of internal jugular vein cannulation using an ultrasound-guided technique. Intensive Care Med 1997; 23: 916919.Google Scholar
Koski EM, Suhonen M, Mattila MA. Ultrasound-facilitated central venous cannulation. Crit Care Med 1992; 20: 424426.Google Scholar
Gordon AC, Saliken JC, Johns D, Owen R, Gray RR. US-guided puncture of the internal jugular vein: complications and anatomic considerations. J Vasc Interv Radiol 1998; 9: 333338.Google Scholar
Brass P, Volk O, Leben J, Schregel W. [Central venous cannulation – always with ultrasound support?] Anästhesiol Intensivmed Notfallmed Schmerzther 2001; 36: 619627.Google Scholar
Trautner H, Greim CA, Arzet H, Schwemmer U, Roewer N. [Ultrasound-guided central venous cannulation in neuropaediatric patients to avoid measures causing potential increase in brain pressure.] Anaesthesist 2003; 52: 115119.Google Scholar
Hrics P, Wilber S, Blanda MP, Gallo U. Ultrasound-assisted internal jugular vein catheterization in the ED. Am J Emerg Med 1998; 16: 401403.Google Scholar
Miller AH, Roth BA, Mills TJ, Woody JR, Longmoor CE, Foster B. Ultrasound guidance versus the landmark technique for the placement of central venous catheters in the emergency department. Acad Emerg Med 2002; 9: 800805.Google Scholar
Vesely TM. Air embolism during insertion of central venous catheters. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2001; 12: 12911295.Google Scholar
Troianos CA, Kuwik RJ, Pasqual JR, Lim AJ, Odasso DP. Internal jugular vein and carotid artery anatomic relation as determined by ultrasonography. Anesthesiology 1996; 85: 4348.Google Scholar
Sulek CA, Gravenstein N, Blackshear RH, Weiss L. Head rotation during internal jugular vein cannulation and the risk of carotid artery puncture. Anesth Analg 1996; 82: 125128.Google Scholar
Wu X, Studer W, Skarvan K, Seeberger MD. High incidence of intravenous thrombi after short-term central venous catheterization of the internal jugular vein. J Clin Anesth 1999; 11: 482485.Google Scholar