Central venous pressure

CVP and RAP can differ when arterial tone is altered.

However, there is increasing evidence that CVP, whether as an absolute value or in terms of changes in response to fluid, does not correlate with ventricular volume (i.e. preload) or volume-responsiveness, and so should not be used to guide intravenous fluid therapy.

The cardiopulmonary baroreflex responds to an increase in CVP by decreasing systemic vascular resistance while increasing heart rate and ventricular contractility in dogs.

[4] Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure Normal CVP in patients can be measured from two points of reference:[citation needed] CVP can be measured by connecting the patient's central venous catheter to a special infusion set which is connected to a small diameter water column.

[citation needed] In most intensive care units, facilities are available to measure CVP continuously.

Trend of central venous pressure as a consequence of variations in cardiac output . The three functions indicate the trend in physiological conditions (in the centre), in those of decreased preload (e.g. in hemorrhage , bottom curve) and in those of increased preload (e.g. following transfusion , top curve).