A study of anatomical variation of external jugular vein

The prior anatomical knowledge of variations of superficial veins of head and neck is important for head and neck surgeons, radiologists doing catheterization and to clinicians in general. Color Doppler Sonography is crucial for sensing collateral pathways.  In cases of variations of the superficial veins of the neck, ultrasound guided venipuncture is potential procedure which may be achieved. The variations of the superficial veins of head and neck though common are important clinically. The superficial veins, especially the external jugular vein (EJV), are increasingly being utilized for cannulation to conduct diagnostic procedures or intravenous therapies. EJV is also used in microsurgical procedures, used as a recipient for the free flaps. The study therefore was intended at unfolding variant anatomy of external jugular vein as seen in a sample of Trinidadian population.  Fifty-two sides of the neck from 26 cadaveric specimens (19 males and 7 females) in the anatomy unit, The University of West Indies, Trinidad were used.  The level of formation, course, communications and termination were explored by dissection. In 41% of cases the vein was formed within the substance of the parotid gland, it was duplicated in 2% of cases and terminated into the internal jugular vein in 5% of cases. Awareness of these variations is important for the surgeons and clinicians performing head and neck vascular or reconstructive surgeries to avoid any intraoperative error procedures which might lead to unnecessary complications.