With which of the following disorders is jugular vein distention most prominent?
A. Abdominal aortic aneurysm
B. Heart failure
C. Myocardial infarction
D. Pneumothorax
Correct Answer: B. Heart failure
Elevated venous pressure, exhibited as jugular vein distention, indicates a failure of the heart to pump.
Option A: Jugular vein distention isn’t a symptom of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The jugular vein is considered a central vein in the body. Central veins are thin-walled, distensible reservoirs and act as a conduit of blood in continuity with the right atrium. The jugular vein divides into external and internal.
Option C: An MI, if severe enough, can progress to heart failure; however, in and of itself, an MI doesn’t cause jugular vein distention. In patients with acute inferior-wall MI with right ventricular involvement, distention of neck veins is commonly described as a sign of failure of the right ventricle.
Option D: Pneumothorax does not cause jugular vein distention. A tension pneumothorax can cause severe hypotension (obstructive shock) and even death. An increase in central venous pressure can result in distended neck veins, hypotension.