The anterior jugular veins: preliminary study

Abstract

The jugular venous system is responsible for the head and neck drainage. The anterior jugular vein has the smallest caliber when compared with the other jugular veins. Near to the superior thoracic opening, the anterior jugular veins run sideways, deep to the sterno bone. Above the sterno bone, the anterior jugular veins run side by side lateral to the midline and they can communicate to each other through an arch – the jugular venous arch. There are many relevant anatomical variations among the anterior jugular veins. Therefore, an anatomical pattern study about these veins have a relevant clinical importance for the enhancement of the surgical technique and improvement of post‐operative cares for procedures done in the anterior region of the neck like thiroidectomies and trachoestomiesObjectiveDescribing the anterior jugular veins relations in the infrahyoid area and comparing possible variations with anthropometric characteristics.MethodTo study the anterior jugular veins positions, Using a form, previously elaborated, the anterior jugular veins are observed according to the following characteristics: the number of veins, caliber, position, path, distance between the middle line, presence and anastomoses location, presence and jugular venous arch location. The cadavers' anthropometric characteristics. had been collected.ResultsThese are the preliminary results : 5 cases with 2 anterior jugular veins;4 cases with only one anterior jugular vein e one case with 3 anterior jugular veins. Fifty per cent of the cases showed the anterior jugular veins near to the midline plan (1cm or less). The veins' caliber were 5 mm or less in 60% of the cases. There are many variantions talking about the arch.Conclusionsas a preliminary study we are able to state that there are many relevant anatomical variations in number of veins and their caliber