Common facial vein

The common facial vein drains from an area that corresponds more or less with the distribution of the facial, maxillary, and superficial temporal arteries. It originates from the intersection of the facial and retromandibular veins near the angle of the mandible.

The common facial vein (CFV) is located by making a diagonal cervical incision across the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid at or just below the level of the angle of the mandible (the CFV may be as far as ≈ 2 cm below this point). The platysma is divided, and the common facial vein is located as it joins the internal jugular vein (IJV) at the level of the hyoid bone. The CFV is cannulated with the atrial tubing and is secured with a snug ligature close to the junction with the IJV. If the CFV is not suitable, a purse string suture is placed directly in the IJV, and the IJV is then opened in the center of the purse string and cannulated.