Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026

The Supraclavicular Fossa Ultrasound View for Central Venous Catheter Placement and Catheter Change Over Guidewire
Published on: December 23, 2014
Right internal jugular vein is recommended for central venous catheterization
Mitsuru Ishizuka1, Hitoshi Nagata, Kazutoshi Takagi
1Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Tochigi, Japan. mm-ishizuka@umin.ac.jp
The right internal jugular vein (IJV) is a better site for central venous catheter (CVC) insertion than the left. This is because the right IJV is wider and closer to the skin, making CVC procedures safer and more accessible.
Area of Science:
- Vascular anatomy
- Medical device insertion
- Ultrasound-guided procedures
Background:
- Internal jugular vein (IJV) is a preferred site for central venous catheter (CVC) insertion.
- Right-sided IJV approach for CVC insertion lacks substantial evidence regarding its safety.
- CVC insertion via IJV has lower risks of pneumothorax and arterial bleeding compared to subclavian vein approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if a right-sided IJV approach is superior to a left-sided approach for CVC insertion.
- Compare anatomical characteristics of right and left IJVs relevant to CVC insertion.
- Provide evidence for the optimal side for IJV cannulation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study comparing right and left IJVs.
- Analysis of computed tomography (CT) scans for IJV diameter, depth, and relationship with common carotid artery (CCA).
- Evaluation of 100 patients undergoing CVC insertion for colorectal cancer surgery.
Main Results:
- Right IJV exhibited significantly larger vertical and horizontal diameters than the left.
- Right IJV was found to be more superficial (closer to the skin) than the left IJV.
- Statistical significance (p <.0001) was observed for all measured parameters.
Conclusions:
- The right IJV is anatomically more favorable for CVC insertion due to its larger diameter and superficial location.
- A right-sided approach for CVC insertion via the IJV is recommended over the left-sided approach.
- Findings support enhanced safety and accessibility for CVC placement using the right IJV.
Related Concept Videos
Veins of Head and Neck
On the other hand, the vertebral veins, unlike their arterial counterparts, are not primarily responsible for brain drainage. Instead, they drain the cervical vertebrae, spinal cord, and some small...
Venous Thrombosis III: Interprofessional Care
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
Cardiac Catheterization II: Right Heart Catheterization
Overview of Systemic Veins
The coronary sinus, the heart's principal vein, resides in the coronary sulcus on the heart's posterior aspect. This broad venous channel receives nearly all venous blood from the myocardium, the heart muscle. It is fed by three primary veins: the great cardiac vein, the middle...
Veins of the Abdomen and Pelvis
The inferior vena cava is fed by numerous smaller veins. The lumbar veins, for instance, drain the posterior abdominal wall, emptying both directly into the inferior vena cava and into the...

