A Simple Clinical Tool to Help Assess Patient Volume (Fluid) Status

A Simple Clinical Tool to Help Assess Patient Volume (Fluid) Status

Patients may have actual or relative intravascular volume depletion in a number of different disease states, particularly with sepsis syndrome. However, it is clinically difficult to determine volume status without invasive monitoring, which may cause unintended complications. Our hypothesis is that we can accurately estimate central venous pressure, which is a surrogate marker of volume status, with a noninvasive portable ultrasound device.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18 or older.
• Healthy, euvolemic volunteers and critically ill patients who are already in an intensive care unit and who will have a central venous catheter placed as part of their planned medical treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to use ultrasound to measure jugular vein (neck brace or bandage), "code" situation.