External Jugular Venous Pressure versus Central Venous Pressure Measurement as a Clinical Predictor among Critically Ill Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Background: Continuous changes in central venous pressure monitoring among critically ill patients was allied to fluid response. External jugular venous pressure may be a reliable estimation method to central venous pressure and have the advantages of being less invasive. Setting: This study was conducted at the anesthesia Intensive Care Unit at Emergency Hospital affiliated to Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt. The aim of the study was to estimate external jugular venous pressure versus central venous pressure measurement as a clinical predictor among critically ill mechanically ventilated patients Method: A prospective comparative study design was utilized in the current study. A purposive sample of 30 adults mechanically ventilated patients was included in this study. Two tools were utilized to collect data: Tool (I): Mechanically ventilated patient assessment and Tool II: Central venous pressure and External jugular venous pressure assessment. Results: It was observed that there was a highly positive and significant correlation between central venous pressure and external jugular venous pressure reading r= 0.813 and p=0,000. Conclusions: External jugular venous pressure measurement represented a real value of central venous pressure. A positive statistical correlation between central venous pressure and external jugular venous pressure measurements seems to be a reliable method to differentiate mechanically ventilated patients with high or low central venous pressure monitoring. Recommendations: Measurement of external jugular venous pressure should be integrated within the critically ill patient's routine care Measurement. Also Measuring central venous pressure may be replaced with external jugularvenous pressure (EJVP) when indicated. Further studies will be needed to confirm reliability of the EJVP on a larger probability sample.