UNILATERAL ELEVATION OF THE INTERNAL JUGULAR PULSE

Abstract

Sixteen patients are described in whom there was elevation of the internal jugular pressure on the left side but not on the right. Venous catheterization demonstrated a gradient of 8 mm Hg (average) between the left innominate vein and the superior vena cava. Cine-angiograms showed a systolic compression of the innominate vein behind the manubrium sterni, which was thought to be produced by an unfolded aortic arch. It is concluded that the venous pressure should be assessed from the right side of the neck and not the left.