system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, METHODS, METHODS, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Catheterization, Central Venous, Female, Humans, Intensive Care Units, Jugular Veins, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Respiration, Artificial, Ultrasonography, Venous Thrombosis.
user
Are the Internal jugular veins asymmetric . Usefulness of ultrasound before catheterization? Context: To demonstrate an asymmetry of the internal jugular veins, a finding which will have consequences for catheterization. Prospective study. The medical ICU of a university-affiliated teaching hospital. Eighty critically ill consecutive patients. Measurement of the cross-sectional area of the internal jugular veins. Search for an asymmetry, defined as an area at least twice that of the contralateral vein. An asymmetry was noted in 62.5% of the patients. The dominant vein was the right in only 68 % of these cases. In addition, 23% of the 160 jugular internal veins had an area of 0.4 cm2 or less.
assistant
Using a simple technique, ultrasound identifies the dominant internal jugular vein, thus indicating the safer side before blind catheterization. Final Decision: yes