Internal Jugular Vein Height and Inferior Vena Cava Diameter Measurement using Ultrasound to Determine Central Venous Pressure: A Correlation Study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between central venous pressure (CVP) measured by conventional central venous access and ultrasonographic measurement of internal jugular vein (IJV) height and inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter. METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional, convenience sampling observational study. RESULTS: 25 patients from the Emergency Department (ED) Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) were studied between 1st March and 30th April 2013. The median age was 63 years (95% CI 54-67). There was a significant correlation between IJV height and CVP using central venous access (r=0.64 p<0.001). Correlation between IVC diameter in end expiration and CVP was 0.74 (p<0.001). An IJV height measurement >8cm predicted a CVP >8cm H2O (sensitivity 71.4%, specificity of 83.3%). CONCLUSION: Measurement of IJV height and IVC diameter by ultrasonography correlates well with invasive CVP and is useful for the assessment of volume status in critically ill patients in the ED.