The jugular venous pressure (JVP) provides an indirect measure of central venous pressure. The internal jugular vein connects to the right atrium without any intervening valves – thus acting as a column for the blood in the right atrium. The JVP consists of certain waveforms and abnormalities of these can help diagnose certain conditions. Unfortunately, detection of these abnormalities and even the JVP itself, can be difficult and has also been superseded by other diagnostic methods.
How to examine the JVP:
- Use the right internal jugular vein (IJV)
- Patient should be at a 45° angle
- Head turned slightly to the left
- If possible have a tangential light source that shines obliquely from the left
- Locate the surface markings of the IJV – runs from medial end of clavicle to the ear lobe under medial aspect of the sternocleidomastoid
- Locate the JVP – look for the double waveform pulsation (palpating the contralateral carotid pulse will help)
- Measure the level of the JVP by measuring the vertical distance between the sternal angle and the top of the JVP. Measure the height – usually less than 3cm.
Source : http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40000502/#ref4
Image : http://tips4cs.blogspot.com/2007/09/measuring-jvp-jugular-venous-pressure.html
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