External Jugular Venous Pressure versus Central Venous Pressure Measurement as a Clinical Predictor among Critically Ill Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Abstract

Background: Continuous changes in central venous pressure monitoring among critically ill \npatients was allied to fluid response. External jugular venous pressure may be a reliable \nestimation method to central venous pressure and have the advantages of being less invasive. \nSetting: This study was conducted at the anesthesia Intensive Care Unit at Emergency Hospital \naffiliated to Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt. The aim of the study was to estimate external \njugular venous pressure versus central venous pressure measurement as a clinical predictor \namong critically ill mechanically ventilated patients Method: A prospective comparative study \ndesign was utilized in the current study. A purposive sample of 30 adults mechanically \nventilated patients was included in this study. Two tools were utilized to collect data: Tool (I): \nMechanically ventilated patient assessment and Tool II: Central venous pressure and External \njugular venous pressure assessment. Results: It was observed that there was a highly positive \nand significant correlation between central venous pressure and external jugular venous \npressure reading r= 0.813 and p=0,000. Conclusions: External jugular venous pressure \nmeasurement represented a real value of central venous pressure. A positive statistical \ncorrelation between central venous pressure and external jugular venous pressure \nmeasurements seems to be a reliable method to differentiate mechanically ventilated patients \nwith high or low central venous pressure monitoring. Recommendations: Measurement of \nexternal jugular venous pressure should be integrated within the critically ill patient s routine \ncare Measurement. Also Measuring central venous pressure may be replaced with external \njugularvenous pressure (EJVP) when indicated. Further studies will be needed to confirm \nreliability of the EJVP on a larger probability sample.