Central venous pressure (CVP), an estimate of right atrial pressure, has been used to
assess cardiac preload and volume status in critically ill patients, assist in the diagnosis of
right-sided heart failure, and guide fluid resuscitation. It is determined by the interaction
between cardiac function and venous return. CVP measurements are relatively easy to
obtain; however, because of the complex relationship between CVP, cardiac output, and the
vascular system, they may be difficult to interpret. This article reviews the physiologic …