NONINVASIVE ASSESSMENT OF CENTRAL VENOUS- PRESSURE IN PATIENTS WITH HEART-FAILURE

The purpose of the study was to evaluate possibility of the use of ven ous occlusion pletismograph EMPA-2-01 for nonivasive quantitative asse ssment of central venous pressure. In 21 patients with heart failure ( NYHA class I - IV) central venous pressure was measured directly by Sw an-Ganz oatheter and forearm venous pressure was semultaneously assess ed by venous occlusion pletismography. Mean values of central and fore arm venous pressures were 4.5+/-1.2 mm Hg and 9.7+/-1.3 mm Hg, respect ively. Noninvasively determined forearm venous pressure correlated clo sely and significantly with central venous pressure (r = 0.95, p<0.001 ). Regression equations were derived for calculation of central venous pressure using values obtained by forearm occlusion pletismography an d vice versa.