Assessment of the deformation rate of venous diameter during internal jugular vein puncture using a newly developed thin-tip three-dimensional needle

Abstract

Background: The internal jugular vein (IJV) is one of the most used sites for central venous access. Some authors revealed the association of a higher deformation rate of the IJV wall with posterior wall penetration, which may cause a hemorrhagic complication. A newly developed thin-tip needle (three-dimensional (3D) needle) reduced the deformation rate in an ex vivo study. Therefore, we conducted a clinical study to investigate its efficacy in reducing vessel deformity during IJV puncture. Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled 80 adult patients who received central venous port (CVP) implantation via the IJV from April 1, 2022, to November 10, 2023, in our institution. Traditional needle-and-catheter was used for ultrasound (US)-guided IJV puncture (usual group) for the former 40 patients before July 18, 2023. Afterward, the 3D needle was used for the latter 40 patients (3D needle group). US images were stored and analyzed to calculate the deformation rate. Results: The deformation rate was 58.6% (13.2–100) for the usual needle and 41.8% (10.6–100) for the 3D needle ( p = 0.0034). Patients who required several punctures included 2 for the usual needle and 12 for the 3D needle, respectively ( p = 0.0032). All patients and the usual needle group demonstrated a weak negative correlation between the deformation rate and pre-puncture vessel diameter ( r = 0.24 and 0.41, respectively), with no correlation in the 3D needle group. Conclusion: The deformation rate of the IJV wall was smaller in the 3D needle group than in the usual needle group. The use of a 3D needle would be safer when puncturing the IJV.