title: Correlation between inferior vena cava diameter and central venous pressure in critically ill patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter is often used to estimate central venous pressure (CVP); however, the correlation and the cutoff of IVC compared with CVP have not yet been described in a Thai-population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study evaluated the critically ill patients in the medical intensive care unit who had a central venous catheter inserted. The correlation between CVP and IVC diameter measured by a 2-dimensional, long-axis subxiphoid view at the end-expiratory phase with bedside ultrasonography were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-seven patients with a mean age of 60 +/- 16 years (range, 18 to 91) were studied. Correlation (r) between end-expiration IVC diameter and CVP was 0.75 (95% CI 0.59-0.85; p < 0.0001). An IVC diameter of < or = 10 mm predicted CVP of 10 cmH2O (sensitivity 77% and specificity 91%) and IVC diameter of > or = 15 mm predicted CVP of 15 cmH2O (sensitivity 90% and specificity 89%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study indicate that the measurement of the IVC diameter has a good correlation with CVP in Thai-population and useful for assessment of the volume status. The measurement of the IVC by ultrasonography may be an important additional evaluation of critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. weera1981@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Weerapan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wiwatworapan
authors.forename: Nuchapa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ratanajaratroj
authors.forename: Buncha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sookananchai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002496:Central Venous Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D016638:Critical Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult