[Assessment of internal jugular vein flow and patency with power duplex Doppler ultrasonography after functional neck dissection].

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to assess the patency of the internal jugular vein after functional neck dissection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-five patients (6 females, 19 males; mean age 53.9 years; range 30 to 71 years) who were operated on because of larynx, hypopharynx and intraoral cavity tumors in the Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic of Haseki Training and Research Hospital between January 2001 and March 2003 were included in the study. Internal jugular veins were evaluated after 42 functional neck dissections. By means of power duplex Doppler ultrasonography, the jugular blood flow, presence or absence of a thrombus, diameter of the vein, velocity of the blood flow were evaluated.

RESULTS

In our study the internal jugular vein patency rate was found to be 95.2%, and thrombosis was detected only in two patients. Blood flow velocity in patients with thrombus was found to be significantly lower than that observed in patients without thrombus (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

It was observed that blood flow of the internal jugular vein was ensured in most patients after functional neck dissection.