COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF PRESSURE MEASURED IN THE ABDOMINAL VENA-CAVA ANDTHE UPPER VENA-CAVA IN ADULTS

Abdominal inferior vena cava pressure was compared to intrathoracic ce ntral venous pressure in 30 adults admitted in an intensive care unit following coronary artery bypass grafting. Mean pressures were obtaine d during controlled ventilation with a positive end expiratory pressur e (PEEP) of zero and 10 cmH(2)O respectively, and during spontaneous b reathing as well. Ninety measurements were obtained. Limits of agreeme nt between intra-abdominal and intrathoracic cava pressures were below 2.5 mmHg in all cases. In this study, inferior vena cava pressure has predicted central venous pressure in adults during both controlled an d spontaneous ventilation.