Contributor: Travis Barlock, MD

Educational Pearls:

What is an internal jugular catheter (IJ) and when do we use it?

IJs are catheters that can be placed in either the left or the right internal jugular vein to provide central venous catheter (CVC) access. CVCs can be placed in other locations other than the internal jugular vein (i.e. subclavian vein or femoral veins).
IJs are used when the patient may require long-term venous access or have to receive hyperosmolar solutions (such as solutions with high glucose content for parenteral nutrition); solutions with extreme pHs (9); or vesicant drugs (drugs that can cause tissue necrosis with extravasation).
They are not to be confused with EJs (external jugular vein catheters) which can be placed in difficult to peripherally catheterize patients. EJs function similarly to a peripheral IV.
The advantage of IJs is their location in larger veins brings them closer to direct access to the heart (i.e. the right internal jugular vein will provide immediate/quicker access to the right atrium to the heart.)

What are concerns of using a right internal jugular catheter versus one in the left?

The right internal jugular vein provides quick access to the heart via the right atrium, making it ideal in critically ill patients who may require vasopressor support.
However it is also the site commonly used for additional cannulation procedures such as hemodialysis, pulmonary artery pressure measurements, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and transvenous pacemaker placement.
These procedures are not uncommon in critically ill patients who also required a CVC for initial hemodynamic support via vasopressors.
Gharaibeh et al. found that patients who received a right IJ and hemodialysis had a higher need for re-insertion of the hemodialysis catheter (40% compared to 2.6% in the left IJ group).
Furthermore, it was found that with a right IJ, hemodialysis catheters had to be exchanged by a guidewire in 23% of those with a right IJ as opposed to 0.9% in the left IJ group (a guidewire exchange is often considered a salvage technique to try and maintain access).

Big Takeaway?

If you are able to obtain an IJ on the right, you can likely obtain one on the left, and if considering longitudinal care for your patient, consider obtaining an IJ on the left to allow for future critical access in the right IJ.

References

Gharaibeh KA, Abdelhafez MO, Guedze KEB, Siddiqi H, Hamadah AM, Verceles AC. Impact of initial jugular vein insertion site selection for central venous catheter placement on hemodialysis catheter complications. Journal of Critical Care. 2025;87:155011. doi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2024.155011
Gallieni M, Pittiruti M, Biffi R. Vascular access in oncology patients. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2008;58(6):323-346. doi:10.3322/CA.2008.0015

Summarized by Dan Orbidan, OMS2 | Edited by Dan Orbidan & Jorge Chalit, OMS4

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Podcast 999: Right vs Left Internal Jugular Access