critical care medicine
How To Do Internal Jugular Vein Cannulation
Introduction
Percutaneous cannulation of the internal jugular vein uses anatomic landmarks to guide venipuncture and a Seldinger technique to thread a central venous catheter through the internal jugular vein and into the superior vena cava. Three approaches (central, anterior, and posterior) are used; the central approach is described here. An internal jugular central venous catheter (CVC) or a Peripheral Vein Catheterization is usually preferred to a subclavian CVC (which has a higher risk of bleeding and pneumothorax) or a femoral CVC (which has a higher risk of infection). Ultrasonographic guidance for placement of internal jugular lines increases the likelihood of successful cannulation and reduces the risk of complications. When ultrasonographic guidance and trained personnel are available, this method of placement is preferred. (See also Central Venous Catheterization , 