title: Flow volume in the jugular vein and related hemodynamics in the branches of the jugular vein.
abstract: Venous reflux in the internal jugular vein branches (JB) was found frequently in patients of certain neurologic disorders. We hypothesized that the retrograde-flow in JB is associated with retrograde hypertension transmitted from the internal jugular vein (IJV), which presumably underlies those neurologic disorders. In this study, we used color-Doppler imaging to evaluate the dynamic venous flow patterns in the IJV and its branches in 50 normal individuals (21 men, 29 women; mean age: 40.9 +/- 14.9 y, range: 22 to 70 y). The flow-direction of all detected JB (n = 100) was flowing into the IJV at baseline. During the Valsalva maneuver (VM), 38 JB (38%) had a retrograde-flow. Retrograde-flow in JB was significantly associated with IJV valve incompetence (OR = 7.6; 95% CI = 2.6 to 21.8; p = 0.0002) and greater IJV blood flow volume (blood flow volume >670 mL/min) (OR = 6.6; 95% CI = 1.8 to 24.5; p = 0.0052), both of which may reflect higher IJV pressure transmission during VM. The sonographic findings can be used in the future studies of diseases that are suspected to be related with retrograde cerebral venous hypertension due to an elevated IJV venous pressure.
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurovascular Diseases, Neurological Institute, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Hung-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: A-Ching
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.forename: Wen-Jang
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Wen-Yung
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Han-Hwa
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001810:Blood Volume; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014690:Venous Pressure