Correlation between central venous and peripheral venous pressures in surgical patients

Abstract EN

The central venous pressure (CVP) measurement is important in assessing right ventricular function and systemic fl uid status, and the venous pressures measured from peripheral venous catheters closely correlate with CVP and/or CVP trends.

The correlation between CVP and peripheral venous pressure (PVP) in patients undergoing major surgical procedures under mechanical ventilation during normotension, hypotension, in the presence of inotropes, and postoperatively during spontaneous respiration was studied in this study.

Materials and methods In this prospective, observational study, 40 adult patients undergoing surgical procedures lasting for more than 5 h, where a major blood loss was expected, were studied.

The CVP and PVP were recorded simultaneously at a 15 min interval until 4 h intraoperatively, followed by hourly during the postoperative period for 4 h.

Statistical analysis used Student’s t-test to analyze statistical signifi cance of difference in mean, Pearson’s product moment correlation coeffi cient to assess correlation, and paired t-test to assess changes in mean arterial pressure.

Results Throughout the study period, PVP persistently showed a positive trend with a signifi cantly higher value than CVP (P < 0.001), but a statistically signifi cant correlation could not be demonstrated persistently.

Conclusion Hence, it is concluded that measurement of PVP can be considered as an alternative to CVP monitoring, when conditions are impractical for central venous catheterization.