Central Venous Pressure (CVP) Assessment by Ultrasound and Physical Examination

Use of Ultrasound to Determine Central Venous Pressure in Critically Ill Patients

Ultrasound may be useful for noninvasively determining the central venous pressure. We intend to compare the clinical examination of the neck veins; ultrasound delineation of the internal jugular vein; and the central venous pressure measured with an intravascular catheter.

Inclusion Criteria:

• adult medical or surgical ICU patients who have preexisting central venous (jugular/subclavian only) catheters.

Exclusion Criteria:

• subjects with only a femoral venous catheter.
• subjects whose CVP measurement by the indwelling catheter exceeds 20cm of water.
• subjects younger than 18 years old.
• inability to obtain informed consent from the subject or the subjects authorized representative.