The Effect of Head Position on the Cross-Sectional Area of the Subclavian Vein

Anesth Analg. 2018 Jun;126(6):1946-1948. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000002446.

Abstract

In 41 healthy volunteers, we investigated the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the subclavian vein (SCV) in the following head positions: neutral and 30° head rotation toward the contralateral or ipsilateral sides. Significant differences were observed in the CSA of the SCV at 3 different head positions: contralateral 30° versus neutral, -0.05 cm (95% confidence interval, -0.08 to -0.03); contralateral 30° versus ipsilateral 30°, -0.15 cm (-0.19 to -0.12); neutral versus ipsilateral 30°, -0.10 cm (-0.13 to -0.07); all Pcorrected< .001). For SCV catheterization, 30° head rotation to the ipsilateral side provided significant improvements in the CSA compared with the other head positions.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02860351.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Catheterization, Central Venous / methods*
  • Female
  • Head Movements / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Subclavian Vein / anatomy & histology
  • Subclavian Vein / diagnostic imaging*
  • Subclavian Vein / physiology*
  • Supine Position / physiology*
  • Ultrasonography, Interventional / methods*

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02860351