Paced breathing causes tonic change rather than phasic modulation of superficial venous diameter

Abstract Background Respiratory modulation is generally observed in the inferior vena cava (IVC). If similar respiratory modulation exists in peripheral superficial veins, it would be possible to dilate the vein diameter by respiratory control. This may improve the success rate of venipuncture in cl...

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Main Authors: Miharu Matsumoto, Nobuko Hashiguchi, Hiromitsu Kobayashi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Physiological Anthropology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-025-00392-9
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author Miharu Matsumoto
Nobuko Hashiguchi
Hiromitsu Kobayashi
author_facet Miharu Matsumoto
Nobuko Hashiguchi
Hiromitsu Kobayashi
author_sort Miharu Matsumoto
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Respiratory modulation is generally observed in the inferior vena cava (IVC). If similar respiratory modulation exists in peripheral superficial veins, it would be possible to dilate the vein diameter by respiratory control. This may improve the success rate of venipuncture in clinical practices. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the respiratory modulation in peripheral superficial veins. Methods This study included 21 healthy female volunteers (mean age 21.8 ± 0.9 years). Participants performed spontaneous breathing (SB) and paced breathing (PB). B-mode ultrasound imaging was used to continuously monitor the cutaneous veins of the left elbow fossa for 50 s. Results Vein diameter demonstrated a clear modulation consistent with paced breathing, and the amplitude of vein diameter modulation was greater at 10 s-PB than at 3 s-PB. Additionally, PB affected the baseline of modulation (mean vein diameter). The baseline exhibited the largest diameter in SB, followed by 3 s-PB and 10 s-PB. The baseline for SB and 10 s-PB demonstrated a statistically significant difference (p = 0.03). Respiratory modulation was confirmed in peripheral superficial veins; however, tonic change in baseline diameter was dominant over phasic modulation. Even when vein diameter was most dilated at 10 s-PB, the diameter at that time was smaller than the mean diameter at SB. Conclusions This study demonstrated that the peripheral superficial vein diameter exhibited respiratory modulation, similar to the IVC. Although respiratory modulation of the IVC has been well documented in previous studies, the present findings provide novel evidence of this phenomenon in the peripheral superficial veins. Additionally, this study identified tonic changes in the mean vein diameter, which were more dominant than phasic modulations. Furthermore, the mean vein diameter during SB was greater than the maximum diameter observed during 10 s-PB. These findings suggested that PB for 50 s during venipuncture did not enhance venous access.
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spelling doaj-art-1fa97e826db44e9ab33b6ec6ca2343212025-08-20T03:53:57ZengBMCJournal of Physiological Anthropology1880-68052025-05-014411910.1186/s40101-025-00392-9Paced breathing causes tonic change rather than phasic modulation of superficial venous diameterMiharu Matsumoto0Nobuko Hashiguchi1Hiromitsu Kobayashi2Department of Health Sciences, Kyushu UniversityDepartment of Health Sciences, Kyushu UniversityIshikawa Prefectural Nursing UniversityAbstract Background Respiratory modulation is generally observed in the inferior vena cava (IVC). If similar respiratory modulation exists in peripheral superficial veins, it would be possible to dilate the vein diameter by respiratory control. This may improve the success rate of venipuncture in clinical practices. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the respiratory modulation in peripheral superficial veins. Methods This study included 21 healthy female volunteers (mean age 21.8 ± 0.9 years). Participants performed spontaneous breathing (SB) and paced breathing (PB). B-mode ultrasound imaging was used to continuously monitor the cutaneous veins of the left elbow fossa for 50 s. Results Vein diameter demonstrated a clear modulation consistent with paced breathing, and the amplitude of vein diameter modulation was greater at 10 s-PB than at 3 s-PB. Additionally, PB affected the baseline of modulation (mean vein diameter). The baseline exhibited the largest diameter in SB, followed by 3 s-PB and 10 s-PB. The baseline for SB and 10 s-PB demonstrated a statistically significant difference (p = 0.03). Respiratory modulation was confirmed in peripheral superficial veins; however, tonic change in baseline diameter was dominant over phasic modulation. Even when vein diameter was most dilated at 10 s-PB, the diameter at that time was smaller than the mean diameter at SB. Conclusions This study demonstrated that the peripheral superficial vein diameter exhibited respiratory modulation, similar to the IVC. Although respiratory modulation of the IVC has been well documented in previous studies, the present findings provide novel evidence of this phenomenon in the peripheral superficial veins. Additionally, this study identified tonic changes in the mean vein diameter, which were more dominant than phasic modulations. Furthermore, the mean vein diameter during SB was greater than the maximum diameter observed during 10 s-PB. These findings suggested that PB for 50 s during venipuncture did not enhance venous access.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-025-00392-9Peripheral superficial veinVenipunctureRespiratory modulationUltrasound imaging
spellingShingle Miharu Matsumoto
Nobuko Hashiguchi
Hiromitsu Kobayashi
Paced breathing causes tonic change rather than phasic modulation of superficial venous diameter
Journal of Physiological Anthropology
Peripheral superficial vein
Venipuncture
Respiratory modulation
Ultrasound imaging
title Paced breathing causes tonic change rather than phasic modulation of superficial venous diameter
title_full Paced breathing causes tonic change rather than phasic modulation of superficial venous diameter
title_fullStr Paced breathing causes tonic change rather than phasic modulation of superficial venous diameter
title_full_unstemmed Paced breathing causes tonic change rather than phasic modulation of superficial venous diameter
title_short Paced breathing causes tonic change rather than phasic modulation of superficial venous diameter
title_sort paced breathing causes tonic change rather than phasic modulation of superficial venous diameter
topic Peripheral superficial vein
Venipuncture
Respiratory modulation
Ultrasound imaging
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40101-025-00392-9
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AT hiromitsukobayashi pacedbreathingcausestonicchangeratherthanphasicmodulationofsuperficialvenousdiameter