title: Comparison of the visualisation of the subclavian and axillary veins: An ultrasound study in healthy volunteers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the area of the lumen of the axillary and subclavian veins using ultrasound (US) in 50 healthy volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using an ultrasound device, depth, area, short axis vein length and long axis vein, vein-artery and vein-pleura distances were measured for axillary and subclavian approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean cross-sectional area of the axillary vein was greater than the mean cross-sectional area of the subclavian vein (327±89 mm2versus 124±46 mm2, P<0.001). Both the mean transverse (10±2mm versus 9±2mm) and longitudinal axes (39±8mm versus 17±7mm) of the axillary vein were greater than those of subclavian vein (P<0.01, P<0.001, respectively). The depths of the axillary and subclavian veins were similar (21±6mm versus 20±6mm, P=0.43). The axillary and subclavian arteries were visualised in 3 and 45 volunteers, respectively (P<0.001). The pleura was seen in 25 and 37 volunteers with the axillary and subclavian approaches, respectively (P=0.01). The distance between the pleura and the subclavian vein was smaller (6±2mm versus 8±3mm, P<0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present US study shows that visualisation of the axillary vein under US is greater than that for the subclavian vein, mainly due to a better alignment with the long axis of the axillary vein leading to a greater cross-sectional area of the axillary vein.
  NCT01647815.
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain and Emergency Medicine, Nîmes University Hospital, place du Pr-Robert-Debré, 30029 Nîmes cedex 9, France; EA 2992, Nîmes Faculty of Medicine, Montpellier University, avenue Kennedy, 30000 Nîmes, France. Electronic address: claire.roger@chu-nimes.fr.
authors: Claire
authors: C
authors: Roger
authors: Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Hôpital Arnaud-de-Villeneuve, Montpellier University Hospital, 37, avenue du Doyen-Gaston-Giraud, 34295 Montpellier cedex 5, France.
authors: Meriem
authors: M
authors: Sadek
authors: Department of Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology, Nimes University Hospital, place du Pr-Robert-Debré, 30029 Nîmes cedex 9, France.
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Bastide
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain and Emergency Medicine, Nîmes University Hospital, place du Pr-Robert-Debré, 30029 Nîmes cedex 9, France.
authors: Pascal
authors: P
authors: Jeannes
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain and Emergency Medicine, Nîmes University Hospital, place du Pr-Robert-Debré, 30029 Nîmes cedex 9, France; EA 2992, Nîmes Faculty of Medicine, Montpellier University, avenue Kennedy, 30000 Nîmes, France.
authors: Laurent
authors: L
authors: Muller
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain and Emergency Medicine, Nîmes University Hospital, place du Pr-Robert-Debré, 30029 Nîmes cedex 9, France; EA 2992, Nîmes Faculty of Medicine, Montpellier University, avenue Kennedy, 30000 Nîmes, France.
authors: Xavier
authors: X
authors: Bobbia
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology, Critical Care, Pain and Emergency Medicine, Nîmes University Hospital, place du Pr-Robert-Debré, 30029 Nîmes cedex 9, France; EA 2992, Nîmes Faculty of Medicine, Montpellier University, avenue Kennedy, 30000 Nîmes, France.
authors: Jean-Yves
authors: JY
authors: Lefrant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D001367:Axillary Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013350:Subclavian Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Axillary vein; Central venous catheter; Subclavian vein; Ultrasound