Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Hickman Catheter Use for Long-Term Vascular Access in a Preclinical Swine Model
Published on: March 31, 2023
Central venous access via external jugular vein in children
Fred W Tecklenburg1, Joel B Cochran, Sally A Webb
1Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, MUSC Children's Hospital, 135 Rutledge Ave, PO Box 250566, Charleston, SC, USA. tecklenf@musc.edu
Objective:
To determine the success rate and complications of using the external jugular (EJ) vein for central venous access in pediatric patients.
Methods:
Prospective cohort study of children who underwent attempts at EJ vein central venous access while receiving care in an 11-bed pediatric intensive care unit at an urban children's hospital.
Results:
Over a period of 15 months, 50 patients had EJ venous cannulation attempts. Central venous access was achieved in 45 patients (90%). Successful central venous access was performed in 4 children (50%) younger than 1 year and in 36 older children (98%). Catheter-tip malposition on chest radiograph required subsequent line manipulation in 2 patients. No complications of pneumothorax or carotid artery puncture occurred during line insertion. The catheters were used for an average of 7.5 days (range, 1-28 days). Catheter malfunction occurred in 4 (1.21/100 catheter-days), and catheter-related bloodstream infections occurred in 2 patients (6.04/1000 catheter-days). No thrombotic complications were clinically detected.
Conclusions:
The EJ vein is a viable site for central venous access with a low complication rate in pediatric patients.
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