Fig. 3. Irregular echogenic appearance of the central aspect of the sternocephalicus muscle (arrow) and perivenous connective tissues from an aberrant attempted jugular vein injection in a fractious horse. Clinically, this appeared as swelling and pain along the jugular groove and required ultrasound examination to differentiate the location from a true jugular vein injury.
by the thumb near the thoracic inlet to achieve max- imal distension of the vein (if there is venous flow) to allow for better definition of the contents of the lumen of the vein. This can be done with the oppo- site hand of the sonographer, or an assistant might
perform this task. The jugular vein should be scanned along the entire the extent of the vein in both directions—along the visible branches of the jugular vein proximally just behind the mandible, distally to the thoracic inlet. The examiner may
Fig. 4. Partial luminal thrombus in the jugular vein after intravenous catheterization. The tunica muscularis (arrowhead) and intimal layers (arrow) are thickened by reactive inflammatory response.
