title: Comparison of right atrial pressure and central venous pressures measured at various anatomical locations in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the right atrial pressure to the central venous pressures measured at different points in spontaneously breathing children and try to find a formula to estimate right atrial pressure by central venous pressure measurement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-one children, aged 5 +/- 4.7 years, who underwent right heart catheterization were studied. All patients were sedated and breathed naturally. The mean pressure was the electronic mean of nine heart beats calculated by Philips BC4000 digital angiographic system. Mean pressure of the right atrium was compared to those measured at the high superior vena cava (SVC), low SVC, high inferior vena cava (IVC) (T10-11), middle IVC (L1-2), low IVC (L3-4), and iliac vein (L5-S1).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean pressures of central veins were significantly higher than that of the right atrium (all p<0.01). Adjusted central venous pressures of SVC-0.5, high IVC-1.5, middle IVC-2, low IVC-2.5, and iliac vein-3 (mmHg) had a good agreement with the right atrial pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Central venous pressures are significantly higher than the right atrial pressure in spontaneously breathing children. Adjusted pressures of SVC-0.5, high IVC-1.5, middle IVC-2, low IVC-2.5, and iliac vein-3 (mmHg) can accurately reflect the right atrial pressure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Chih
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yun-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Sheng-Ling
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: Ying-Tsung
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ching-Shiang
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D016280:Atrial Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D002496:Central Venous Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000503:physiopathology; D007223:Infant; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000503:physiopathology; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior / Q000503:physiopathology