Introduction

• Central venous pressure (CVP) is the pressure measured within the lumen of the cranial vena cava within the thorax, just as it enters the right atrium . The measured value is used to approximate the pressure within the right atrium. It is a measure of right ventricular filling pressure. It is a reflection of intravascular volume, cardiac function and venous compliance.
• CVP is not interchangeable with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), which is an indicator of left atrial pressure. PCWP can be measured via a catheter (Swan-Ganz) placed into the pulmonary artery and wedged to a branch of a pulmonary artery.
• Specific indications for measurement of CVP include:
  • During resuscitation from hypovolemia.
  • During diuresis.
  • In patients with suspected right heart dysfunction.
• CVP can be measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or in centimeters of water (cm H2O). To convert from mm Hg to cm H2O, (mm Hg x 1.36) = cm H2O.

Materials required to perform CVP measurements

CVP normal values

Causes of elevated CVP

Factors that influence CVP

Contraindications to CVP measurements

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Waddell L S (2000) Direct blood pressure monitoring. Clin Tech Small Anim Pract 15 (3) 111-118 PubMed.
• Machon R G, Raffee M R & Robinson E P (1995) Central venous pressure measurements in the caudal vena cava of sedated cats. J Vet Emerg Crit Care 5 (2), 121-129 VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Monnet E (2002) Cardiovascular monitoring. In: The Veterinary ICU Book. Eds W E Wingfield and M R Raffee. Teton New Media, Jackson Hole, WY. pp 266-280.
• Abbott J A (2001) Dilated cardiomyopathy. In: Veterinary Emergency Secrets. 2nd edition. Ed W E Wingfield. Hanley and Belfus, Philadelphia. pp 203-211.
• Selavka C M & Rozanski E (2001) Invasive blood pressure monitoring. In: Veterinary Emergency Secrets. 2nd edn. Ed W E Wingfield. Hanley and Belfus, Philadelphia. pp 469-471.
• Walton R S (2001) Shock. In: Veterinary Emergency Secrets. 2nd edn. Ed W E Wingfield. Hanley and Belfus, Philadelphia. pp 28-36.