Central venous pressure

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Central venous pressure (CVP) describes the pressure of blood in the thoracic vena cava, near the right atrium of the heart. CVP reflects the amount of blood returning to the heart and the ability of the heart to pump the blood into the arterial system.

It is a good approximation of right atrial pressure,[1] which is a major determinant of right ventricular end diastolic volume. (However, there can be exceptions in some cases.)[2]

Measurement

Normal CVP can be measured from two points of reference:

CVP can be measured by connecting the patient's central venous catheter to a special infusion set which is connected to a small diameter water column. If the water column is calibrated properly the height of the column indicates the CVP.

In most progressive intensive care units in the U.S., specialized monitors are available to continuiously measure CVP as well as other hemodynamic values.

Factors affecting CVP

Factors which increase CVP include:

Factors which decrease CVP include:

References

  1. "Central Venous Catheter Physiology". Retrieved 2009-02-27.
  2. Tkachenko BI, Evlakhov VI, Poyasov IZ (2002). "Independence of changes in right atrial pressure and central venous pressure". Bull. Exp. Biol. Med. 134 (4): 318–20. PMID 12533747. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

External links

See also

Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure

de:Zentraler Venendruck it:Pressione venosa centrale no:Sentralt venetrykk sv:Centralt ventryck