[Quantitative determination of blood flow in the internal jugular vein using ultrasound]

The cross-sectional area of the internal jugular vein was measured in 8 normal healthy subjects and in two patients having AV malformations in the internal carotid circulation using a linear-array scanner with facilities for computerised planimetry. Mean blood flow velocity was measured at the same site of the vessel by means of continuous-wave Doppler flowmeter. The product of the two values was considered to indicate volume flow. The mean value for bilateral flow was 656 +/- 113 ml/min in the normal series. In the two patients the values were 1 331 ml/min and 860 ml/min respectively.