ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinical value of ultrasonic surface localization in internal jugular vein catheterization.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 150 patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I -III who were planning to receive elective surgeries were randomized into anatomical landmark group, ultrasonic surface positioning group, and ultrasound-guided group using computed random table, with 50 cases in each group. The right internal jugular vein catheterization was performed after tracheal intubation. In the anatomic landmark group, patients were punctured using surface marks through central approach. In ultrasonic surface positioning group and ultrasound-guided group, patients were punctured with ultrasonic localization and guidance through central approach. The relationship between internal jugular vein and carotid artery, the position of the needle into the vein, the success rate of puncture, the change times of puncture point, and the complications were recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ultrasound scan revealed that the relationship between the right internal jugular vein and the right common carotid artery could be divided into three types: parallel (12.7%), partial overlapping (69.3%), and complete overlapping (18.0%). The average "safety distance" of jugular vein puncture was (1.15 +/- 0.47) cm. The success rate of the first puncture attempt in ultrasonic surface positioning group and ultrasound-guided group were 78.0% and 82.0%, respectively, which was significantly higher than that in anatomic landmark group (22.0%) (P < 0.05), whereas the complication incidence in anatomic landmark group (12.0%) were significantly higher than those in ultrasonic surface positioning group (0) and ultrasound-guided group (0) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Ultrasonic surface positioning applied during internal jugular vein catheterization is helpful to reveal the inner diameters as well as the origin and course of arteries and veins in the puncture and identify the abnormalities as early as possible. As a simple support technique for internal jugular vein puncture, it is suitable for clinical application.</p>