Central venous pressure

Central Venous Pressure (CVP)

Central venous pressure (CVP) is the blood pressure in the 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 back into the arterial system. CVP is often a good approximation of right atrial pressure, although the two are not identical.

Pronunciation

Central venous pressure: /ˈsɛntrəl ˈviːnəs ˈprɛʃər/

Etymology

The term "central venous pressure" is derived from the Latin centrum meaning "center", vena meaning "vein", and the Old French pression meaning "pressure".

Related Terms

• Blood pressure
• Heart
• Vena cava
• Right atrium
• Arterial system

Measurement

CVP is most commonly measured by a catheter inserted into a central vein. The catheter is often inserted in the subclavian vein, internal jugular vein, or femoral vein. The pressure is measured with the patient at a 45-degree angle; in this position, the zero point is the mid-axillary line.

Clinical Significance

CVP is a useful measure in critical care medicine and is used to guide intravenous fluid therapy in patients with shock or congestive heart failure. It can also be used to assess the effects of certain drugs on the heart, such as vasopressors and inotropes.

See Also

• Cardiac output
• Pulmonary artery catheter
• Swan-Ganz catheter

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Central venous pressure
• Wikipedia's article - Central venous pressure

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