Variations of the external and internal jugular veins: a fetal study / Variaciones de las venas yugulares externas e internas: estudio fetal

SUMMARY: The external jugular vein (EJV) is formed by the union of the posterior division of the retromandibular vein and posterior auricular vein, while the internal jugular vein (IJV) is a continuation of the sigmoid sinus. A number of variations in the formation, lengths and drainage patterns of EJV and IJV have been documented in adults, however there is a paucity of literature regarding fetal studies. This study aimed to highlight variation patterns of external and internal jugular veins in 40 fetuses (n=80). This study included the bilaterally dissection of the neck region in 40 fetuses between the gestational ages of 15-28 weeks at the University of KwaZulu-Natal as per Grants Dissector. This study observed three variations in the pattern of the EJV and IJV. With regard to the EJV, duplication occurred on the sternocleidomastoid muscle in 4 % of the specimens sampled in this study, which concurred to a study conducted by Olabu et al. (2015) in a Kenyan sample. The "Y-shaped" IJV occurred in 1 % of the specimens, however the "Y-shaped" IJV gave off a tributary to the EJV in 3 % of the specimens sampled in this study. Lalwani et al. (2006) stated a rare venous communication between the EJV and IJV. The knowledge of the variable patterns of the external and internal jugular veins are important to clinicians performing micro-vascular surgeries in head and neck region.

RESUMEN: La vena yugular externa (VYE) está formada por la unión de la división posterior de la vena retromandibular y la vena auricular posterior, mientras que la vena yugular interna (VYI) es una continuación del seno sigmoideo. En adultos se han documentado una serie de variaciones en la formación, las longitudes y los patrones de drenaje de la VYE y la VYI, sin embargo hay escasa literatura con respecto a estudios fetales. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo destacar los patrones de variación de las venas yugulares externa e interna en 40 fetos (n = 80). El estudio incluyó la disección bilateral de la región del cuello en 40 fetos de edades gestacionales entre 15-28 semanas en la Universidad de KwaZuluNatal. Se observó tres variaciones en el patrón de la VYE y la VYI. Con respecto a la VYE, se produjo duplicación en el músculo esternocleidomastoideo en el 4 % de los especímenes, lo que coincidió con un estudio realizado por Olabu et al. en una muestra keniana. La VYI en "Y" se observó en el 1 % de los especímenes, y otorgó un afluente a la VYE en el 3 % de los especímenes muestreados en este estudio. Lalwani et al. describió una rara comunicación venosa entre la VYE y la VYI. El conocimiento de los patrones variables de las venas yugulares externa e interna es importante para los médicos que realizan cirugías microvasculares en la región de cabeza y cuello.

Blood gases of horses subjected to jugular vein occlusion during treadmill exercise / Gases sanguíneos em equinos submetidos à oclusão da veia jugular durante o exercício em esteira

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of unilateral and bilateral jugular vein occlusion via temporary surgical ligature on arterial blood gases in horses during treadmill exercise. Six horses performed three exercise tests (ETs). ET1, considered to be the control, was performed in horses without jugular occlusion. ET2 and ET3 were performed in horses with unilateral and bilateral occlusion via temporary surgical ligature of the jugular veins, respectively. The partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) were determined. The PO2 showed decreased values during ET2 and ET3, suggesting that horses presenting acute jugular thrombophlebitis may have airflow limitations when exercising.(AU)

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da oclusão da veia jugular por ligadura cirúrgica unilateral e bilateral sobre os gases do sangue arterial em equinos durante o exercício em esteira. Seis equinos realizaram três exercícios teste (ETs). ET1, considerado como controle, foi realizado por eqüinos sem oclusão jugular. ET2 e ET3 foram cumpridos por equinos apresentando oclusão da veia jugular por ligadura temporária unilateral e bilateral, respectivamente. A pressão parcial de oxigênio (PO2) e a pressão parcial de dióxido de carbono (PCO2) foram determinadas. A (PO2) demonstrou diminuição em ET2 e ET3, sugerindo que equinos com tromboflebite jugular aguda podem apresentar limitação no fluxo de ar inspirado durante o exercício.(AU)

Blood gases of horses subjected to jugular vein occlusion during treadmill exercise / Gases sanguíneos em equinos submetidos à oclusão da veia jugular durante o exercício em esteira

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of unilateral and bilateral jugular vein occlusion via temporary surgical ligature on arterial blood gases in horses during treadmill exercise. Six horses performed three exercise tests (ETs). ET1, considered to be the control, was performed in horses without jugular occlusion. ET2 and ET3 were performed in horses with unilateral and bilateral occlusion via temporary surgical ligature of the jugular veins, respectively. The partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) were determined. The PO2 showed decreased values during ET2 and ET3, suggesting that horses presenting acute jugular thrombophlebitis may have airflow limitations when exercising.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da oclusão da veia jugular por ligadura cirúrgica unilateral e bilateral sobre os gases do sangue arterial em equinos durante o exercício em esteira. Seis equinos realizaram três exercícios teste (ETs). ET1, considerado como controle, foi realizado por eqüinos sem oclusão jugular. ET2 e ET3 foram cumpridos por equinos apresentando oclusão da veia jugular por ligadura temporária unilateral e bilateral, respectivamente. A pressão parcial de oxigênio (PO2) e a pressão parcial de dióxido de carbono (PCO2) foram determinadas. A (PO2) demonstrou diminuição em ET2 e ET3, sugerindo que equinos com tromboflebite jugular aguda podem apresentar limitação no fluxo de ar inspirado durante o exercício.

Endovascular treatment of pulsatile tinnitus associated with transverse sigmoid sinus aneurysms and jugular bulb anomalies.

Pulsatile tinnitus of vascular origin may arise in arterial or venous structures. Many authors have reported the association of pulsatile tinnitus with anomalies of dural venous sinuses and the jugular bulb. In such circumstances, mainly concomitantly with disabling tinnitus, endovascular treatment has been successfully employed. We describe here a new case of jugular bulb diverticulum associated with transverse sigmoid sinus stenosis, in a patient presenting with disabling pulsatile tinnitus. She was treated with dural sinus stenting and selective embolization of the diverticulum. In addition, we performed a literature review aiming to identify possible risk factors for developing the symptoms, as well as the safety and results of endovascular treatment.

A case of unilateral fenestration and duplication of the external jugular vein / Un caso de fenestración unilateral y duplicación de la vena yugular externa

The external jugular vein is increasingly being utilized as the recipient vein in head and neck free tissue transfers, and for cannulation in order to conduct diagnostic procedures or intravenous therapies. The variations in the patterns of its course, and knowledge of them, are therefore important. We report on a unique and previously non-described unilateral fenestration and duplication of the external jugular vein found during the neck dissection of a 77-year-old female cadaver. Embryological evaluation and clinical implications of the anomaly are described. Clinicians and surgeons performing neck vascular or reconstructive surgery should be aware of this variation of the external jugular vein in the hope of preventing inadvertent injury.

La vena yugular externa se está utilizando cada vez como vena receptora en la transferencias de tejidos libres de cabeza y cuello, y para canulización en procedimientos de diagnóstico o terapias intravenosas. Las variaciones en los patrones de su curso, y el conocimiento de los mismos son relevantes. Se reporta una fenestración unilateral, no descrita previamente, y la duplicación de la vena yugular externa encontrada durante la disección del cadáver de una mujer de 77 años de edad. Se hace una evaluación embriológica y las implicaciones clínicas de esta anomalía. Los médicos y cirujanos que realizan cirugía vascular o reconstructiva de cuello deben tener en cuenta esta variación de la vena yugular externa con el fin de prevenir lesiones accidentales.

Two rare anatomical variations of external jugular vein: an embryological overview / Dos raras variaciones anatómicas de la vena yugular externa: una visión embriológica

Human anatomy is an ocean of unending variations and its mysteries are being unravelled since ages. Knowledge of variations in the superficial veins of head and neck is essential to carry out successful surgical procedures. During routine dissection of head and neck of two middle aged male cadavers, in the Department of Anatomy, Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, India, we came out with some interesting venous architecture. The retromandibular vein on the left side of both the cadavers was found to be undivided and joined with the facial vein in the neck at an acute angle to form a common venous trunk at variable distances from the angle of the mandible. That trunk ultimately drained into the left subclavian vein. This might be the result of disappearance of the cephalic part of the external jugular vein and formation of an additional communication between common facial vein and the external jugular vein in foetal life. In one case, we also came across an extra transverse communication between that common trunk and the internal jugular vein. A detail of those cases with embryological explanation is attempted...

La anatomía humana tiene un sin fin de variaciones y sus misterios se han develado desde el inicio de los tiempos. El conocimiento de las variaciones anatómicas de las venas superficiales de la cabeza y del cuello es fundamental para llevar a cabo con éxito los procedimientos quirúrgicos. Durante una disección de rutina de cabeza y cuello encontramos una arquitectura venosa interesante en dos cadáveres de hombres de mediana edad en el Departamento de Anatomía de la Facultad de Medicina Nacional Calcuta, Calcuta, India. En el lado izquierdo del cuello de ambos cadáveres, la vena retromandibular no se encontraba dividida, y se unía a la vena facial en un ángulo agudo, para formar un tronco venoso común a una distancia variable desde el ángulo de la mandíbula. Ese tronco finalmente drenaba en la vena subclavia izquierda. Esto podría ser el resultado de la desaparición de la parte cefálica de la vena yugular externa y la formación de una comunicación adicional entre la vena facial común y la vena yugular externa en la vida fetal. En un caso, también se encontró con una comunicación adicional transversal entre ese tronco común y la vena yugular interna. Se realiza una descripción en detalle de los casos junto a una explicación embriológica...

Unilateral variations of vessels and nerves in the neck / Variación unilateral de vasos y nervios en el cuello

Variations of vessels and nerves in the left neck side, of 65 year old male cadaver, during the routine dissections, were detected. It was observed that the linguofacial trunk originated from external carotid artery and that the ascending pharyngeal artery originated from the occipital artery. It was determined that after the laryngeopharyngeales rami originated from the superior cervical ganglion, the branch wound around the origin of the superior thyroid artery. As an additional variation, the internal jugular vein divided. The cervical ansa and the inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle passed through the parts of the vein. We think that these type of variation can entail important difficulties during radiologic and surgical procedures of the neck region. To know these anatomical variations, is important for the anatomist and surgeons.

Durante una disección de rutina, fue observada en el lado izquierdo del cuello de un cadáver de sexo masculino de 65 años de edad variaciones anatómicas vasculares y nerviosas. Se observó que el tronco linguofacial se originaba de la arteria carótida externa y que la arteria faríngea ascendente se origina en la arteria occipital. Se determinó que los ramos laringofaríngeos originadas desde el ganglio cervical superior, giraban en torno al origen de la arteria tiroidea superior. Como una variación adicional, la vena jugular interna se encontró dividida. El asa cervical y el vientre inferior del músculo omohioideo pasaban a través de las partes de la división de la vena. Creemos que este tipo de variaciones supone dificultades importantes durante procedimientos radiológicos y quirúrgicos de la región del cuello, y por tanto, es importante que los cirujanos conozcan estas variaciones.

An unusual termination of seven veins in the jugulo-subclavian junction / Inusual terminación de siete venas en la unión yugulo-subclavia

During anatomical dissection of a female Caucasian cadaver in our department, we observed an unusual termination of seven veins at the jugulo-subclavian junction. Normally, the jugulo-subclavian junction is formed by the union of the internal jugular vein and the subclavian vein, and gives rise to the brachionocephalic vein. In our case, except from these two, five additional veins, namely the cephalic vein, the transverse cervical vein, the external jugular vein, the anterior jugular vein, and the vertebral vein, were also joined at the level of the jugulo-subclavian junction, in order to form the brachionocephalic vein. Such a variation has not yet been reported in the literature.

Durante la disección anatómica de un cadáver caucásico femenino, se observó una inusual terminación de siete venas en el lugar de unión yúgulo-subclavia. Normalmente, la unión yúgulo-subclavia consiste en la unión de la vena yugular interna y la vena subclavia, que forman la vena braquiocefálica. En nuestro caso, además de estas dos venas, se observaron cinco venas adicionales, la vena cefálica, la vena cervical transversa, la vena yugular externa, la vena yugular anterior y la vena vertebral, la que también se unió en el nivel de la unión yúgulo-subclavia, a fin de formar la vena braquiocefálica. Tal variación no ha sido reportado en la literatura.

[An anatomical variation: the aberrant termination of the thoracic duct]. / Una variación anatómica: la desembocadura aberrante del conducto torácico.

In a male cadaver dissected at the Department of Morphology, University del Valle, Call (Colombia), a rarely described anatomical variation was found. It consisted of an aberrant termination or drainage of the thoracic lymph duct. Normally, this duct ascends in the thorax behind the esophagus, gradually diverges towards the left side of the neck and ends in the left jugulo-subclavian confluent--either in the internal jugular vein or in the subclavian vein. In the case of this cadaver, the thoracic duct diverged towards the right side of the neck to end in the right internal jugular vein. The present work describes the embryonic origin of the duct and offers a possible explanation for the anatomical variation encountered.

An anomalous left external jugular vein draining into right subclavian vein: a case report

Knowledge of the varying drainage patterns of superficial veins of head & neck, in particular, jugular veins are not only important for anatomists but also for the surgeons operating at this level and to clinicians in general. The variations are important for interventional radiologists too who perform transjugular procedures, such as port implantations and the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt or selective venous samplings. Results of recent studies report that the superficial veins, especially the external jugular vein (EJV), is been increasingly utilized for cannulation to conduct diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. We report a very unusual presentation of external jugular vein on left side of an embalmed male cadáver. Embryological evaluations of the anomaly was done and compared with available literature which showed that the observed variation is rare.

El conocimiento de los diferentes patrones de drenaje de las venas superficiales de la cabeza y cuello, en particular, las venas yugulares no sólo son importantes para anatomistas, sino también para los cirujanos que operan a este nivel y para los médicos en general. Las variaciones son importantes también para los radiólogos intervencionistas, quienes realizan procedimientos transyugulares, así como implantaciones portales y portosistémicas transyugulares intrahepáticas o derivación venosa selectiva. Resultados de estudios recientes informan que la venas superficiales, especialmente la vena yugular externa, es cada vez más utilizada para la canulación en diagnósticos y procedimientos terapéuticos. Se reporta una muy inusual variación anatómica de la vena yugular externa del lado izquierdo, presente en un cadáver embalsamado de sexo masculino. Fueron realizadas evaluaciones embriológicas de la anomalía y se compararon con la literatura mostrando que se trata de una variación rara.

[Endovascular treatment of spontaneous vertebral arteriovenous fistula in children: case report]. / Tratamento endovascular de fístula arteriovenosa vertebral espontânea em criança: relato de caso.

Spontaneous cervical artery fistulas are rare arteriovenous malformations between the artery and veins of the neighborhood. We report a case of non traumatic vertebral arteriovenous fistula in a girl, aged 9 years, treated by endovascular approach. Under general anesthesia and with fluoroscopic guidance, using a endovascular technique, latex detachable balloons were used to successfully occlude the fistula. Complete clinical and angiographic recovery was achieved and no complications related to the embolization procedure occurred. The result obtained in this case corroborates that endovascular techniques, especially balloon occlusion embolization, has become the standard treatment for this vascular disorder.

Internal jugular phlebectasia in children.

Phlebectasia is an abnormal dilatation of an isolated vein, may affect any vein, and is usually asymptomatic. When the internal jugular vein is involved, it presents as a cervical swelling that can mimic the signs of either pharyngocele or a laryngocele and, because of its rarity, is frequently misdiagnosed. We describe 2 cases of phlebectasia of internal jugular vein in children with voice change in one of them. No treatment is necessary for this benign, self-limiting condition. Clinical features, diagnosis, treatment options, and a review of the literature about this rare venous lesion are presented.

[Pulsatile tinnitus associated with a high jugular bulb and slow venous blood flow]. / Acufeno pulsátil asociado a bulbo yugular de posición alta con flujo venoso lento.

A case of permanent pulsatile tinnitus of the left ear in a patient with hypertriglyceridemia is reported. The combined radiological study with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and digital angiography excluded a glomus tumor and revealed an enlarged, high-position jugular bulb with slow blood flow. Causes of pulsatile tinnitus are discussed. We conclude that imaging techniques play a major role in the diagnosis of head and neck vascular abnormalities.

Síndrome de Ehlers-Danlos, a propósito de un caso de difícil clasificación / Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, about a hardly classifiable case

El síndrome de Ehlers-Danlos comprende un grupo de entidades con anormalidades en la estructura, síntesis o procesamiento de la colágena. Sus manifestaciones clínicas, alteraciones genéticas y anomalías bioquímicas, han permitido clasificar diez formas clínicas de la enfermedad. Hay casos que no es posible clasificar en los grupos descritos, como el caso que se reporta, con manifestaciones graves de la enfermedad. Las manifestacione más frecuentes son en piel, sistema osteoarticular, tracto gastrointestinal, aparato cardiovascular y ojos