central venous pressure
Also written as: CVP — central venous pressure
Intravascular pressure measurement reflecting right atrial filling pressure and venous return to the heart.
Full Definition
The blood pressure in the thoracic vena cava near the right atrium, typically measured through a central venous catheter placed in the internal jugular, subclavian, or femoral vein. Normal CVP ranges from 2-8 mmHg (3-11 cmH2O). In cardiac anesthesia, CVP monitoring helps assess intravascular volume status, right heart function, and venous return. Elevated CVP may indicate volume overload, right heart failure, or pericardial tamponade, while low CVP suggests hypovolemia. Limitations include poor correlation with actual intravascular volume and influence of mechanical ventilation, patient position, and cardiac compliance.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly abbreviated as CVP; specify units (mmHg or cmH2O) and reference level (mid-axillary line) when documenting.
In Context
- "Central venous pressure remained elevated at 18 mmHg despite aggressive diuresis, suggesting persistent right heart dysfunction." — ICU progress note
- "The anesthesiologist used central venous pressure trends to guide fluid management during the lengthy procedure." — Anesthesia record