title: Doppler ultrasonography of normal neck veins.
abstract: Doppler ultrasonography was used to examine 198 neck-vein systems (67 right, 131 left) in 148 patients. The vessel lumen is usually echo-free: the veins are supple, and the internal jugular and sometimes the subclavian veins can be compressed. The venous confluence is Y-shaped. Blood flow was symmetrical and biphasic in 57% of cases, continuous in 29% of cases, and monophasic in 13% of cases. Blood flow velocity was less than 1 m/s in all cases and varied with respiration and heart rate. Color Doppler allows flow imaging and increases the speed and reliability of the procedure. This investigation is useful for following-up patients with indwelling venous catheters and is the investigation of choice whenever pathology of the neck veins is suspected.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pucheu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scheuble
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pucheu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016121:Brachiocephalic Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply*; D012016:Reference Values; D013350:Subclavian Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014680:Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging