Tzu Chi Medical Journal
Volume 21, Issue 4 , Pages 317-322, December 2009

Hemodynamics of the Internal Jugular Vein: An Ultrasonographic Study

  • Shinn-Kuang Lin

      Affiliations

    • Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, Taipei, Taiwan
    • School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yeu-Jhy Chang

      Affiliations

    • Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
    • College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Fu-Yi Yang

      Affiliations

    • Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Neurology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, 289, Jian-Guo Road, Xindian, Taipei, Taiwan

Received 22 May 2009; received in revised form 23 July 2009; accepted 16 November 2009.

Article Outline

Abstract 

Objective

To establish a simple classification of internal jugular venous flow using ultrasonography.

Materials and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the sonographic findings of 1600 consecutive patients who were referred to the neurosono-graphic laboratory. Abnormal jugular venous flow was classified into five groups: (A) markedly decreased flow velocity; (B) stasis and/or thrombus formation; (C) reversed flow; (D) increased turbulent flow; and (E) pulsa-tile turbulent flow. Groups A to C were categorized as slow flow groups and groups D and E as high flow groups.

Results

Abnormal jugular venous flow was found in 182 (11%) patients. A slow flow pattern (73%) comprised the majority of abnormalities. Eightynine percent of patients in the slow flow groups had abnormalities in the left internal jugular vein (IJV) and 92% of those in the high flow groups had abnormalities in the bilateral IJV. Incompetence of the jugular valve was the most common cause of slow flow in the IJV. Most of the increased turbulent flow was found in patients with hyperthyroidism and in pregnant women. Arteriovenous malformation and carotid-cavernous fistula were the causes of pulsatile turbulent jugular venous flow. Associated clinical symptoms occurred in only two (1.5%) patients (with a concomitant left IJV and left subclavian vein thrombosis) in the slow flow groups, and in 34 (68%) patients in the high flow groups.

Conclusion

Most of the abnormally decreased jugular venous flow occurred on the left side. Decreased venous flow or even thrombosis of one side of the IJV was usually asymptomatic. Increased jugular flow was associated with a physiological hyperemic state in cerebral hemodynamics. Increased awareness and angiographic studies are indicated in patients with pulsatile turbulent jugular venous flow because of a high correlation with intracranial arteriovenous shunting.

Keywords:  Color-coded carotid duplex sonography , Internal jugular vein , Jugular venous flow , Ultrasonography

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PII: S1016-3190(09)60062-8

doi:10.1016/S1016-3190(09)60062-8

Tzu Chi Medical Journal
Volume 21, Issue 4 , Pages 317-322, December 2009

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