Relationship between central venous pressure and bioimpedance vector analysis in critically ill patients

Abstract

Central venous pressure values correlated with direct impedance measurements more than with total body water predictions. Whereas central venous pressure values >12 mm Hg were associated with shorter impedance vectors in 93% of patients, indicating fluid overload, central venous pressure values <3 mm Hg were associated with long impedance vectors in only 10% of patients, indicating tissue dehydration. The combined evaluation of intensive care unit patients by BIVA and central venous pressure may be useful in therapy planning, particularly in those with low central venous pressure in whom reduced, preserved, or increased tissue fluid content can be detected by BIVA.