The “branching external jugular vein”: an unreported clinically significant anatomic variation

Background The reported overall success rate for central venous catheter (CVC) insertion into the external jugular vein (EJV) is less than other central veins. A contributing factor for this might be the well-documented anatomical variations of the EJV. However, there are no reports correlating these anatomical variations with successful CVC insertion. Our aim was to evaluate the EJV anatomical variations and their clinical relevance. Results All CVCs inserted over the study period were prospectively recorded with emphasis on the times the EJV was accessed, operative difficulties and any anatomical variations with their influence on CVC insertion. Over 15 months, 36 CVCs were inserted, 17 (47%) into EJV. For EJV line insertions, age is 39 days–14 years, 9 into right EJV. Operative difficulty was encountered in 4 patients (24%) where the catheter was inserted into EJV but failed to thread into a satisfactory position. In all 4 patients, further dissection revealed EJV branching into a bigger anterior branch which follows the course of main EJV yet not leading to the right atrium (RA) and a smaller posterior branch leading to RA. Regarding the 4 cases of “the branching EJV”, age is 2–14 years, 3 males:1 female and 3 left:1 right EJV. The overall success rate for CVC insertion through the EJV in this study was 100% including the 4 cases with “the branching EJV”. Conclusions This is the first report describing “the branching EJV” and its clinical relevance to CVC insertion.