Extrajugular pathways of human cerebral venous blood drainage assessed by duplex ultrasound.
Cerebral venous drainage in humans is thought to be ensured mainly via the internal jugular veins (IJVs). However, anatomic, angiographic, and ultrasound studies suggest that the vertebral venous system serves as an important alternative drainage route. We assessed venous blood volume flow in vertebral veins (VVs) and IJVs of 12 healthy volunteers using duplex ultrasound. Measurements were performed at rest and during a transient bilateral IJV and a circular neck compression. Total venous blood volume flow at rest was 766 +/- 226 ml/min (IJVs: 720 +/- 232, VVs: 47 +/- 33 ml/min). During bilateral IJV compression, VV flow increased to 128 +/- 64 ml/min. Circular neck compression, causing an additional deep cervical vein obstruction, led to a further rise in VV volume flow (186 +/- 70 ml/min). As the observed flow increase did not compensate for IJV flow cessation, other parts of the vertebral venous system, like the intraspinal epidural veins and the deep cervical veins, have to be considered as additional alternative drainage pathways.
Schreiber
Stephan J
SJ
Department of Neurology, Neuroradiological Section, University Hospital Charité, Humboldt University, 10098 Berlin, Germany. Stephan.Schreiber@charite.de
Lurtzing
Frank
F
Gotze
Rainer
R
Doepp
Florian
F
Klingebiel
Randolf
R
Valdueza
Jose M
JM
D000328:Adult; D001810:Blood Volume; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004453:Echoencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000502:physiology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex