Reliability of Central Venous Pressure Measurements

Centrally inserted central catheters (CICC) are commonly used in the intensive care unit
(ICU) for delivery of fluids, medications, and nutrition. They are also used to measure
central venous pressure (CVP) which provides critical information about blood volume status
and cardiac function of a patient. Currently, CICCs are the gold standard for measuring CVP,
but they have a number of associated risks including pneumothorax, major hemorrhage, neck
hematoma, and carotid puncture. An alternative to a CICC is a peripherally inserted central
catheter (PICC). A PICC can be placed with lower risks than a CICC, has a lower rate of
bloodstream infections, and provides longer-term IV access at a lower cost. PICCs can be
used to deliver fluids, medications, and nutrition. However, there is minimal evidence that
a PICC can measure CVP as effectively as a CICC. Therefore, a CICC is preferred when a
patient requires CVP monitoring in our ICU. Our aim is to compare CVP measurements from
CICCs and PICCs. We will also evaluate whether or not the duration of CICC placement affects
the differences in CVP measurements between the CICCs and PICCs. We hypothesize that the
differences between the CVP measurements of the CICCs and PICCs will be clinically
insignificant.

The goal of this study is to determine if the central venous pressure (CVP) measurements
obtained from a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) consistently correlate with
the CVP measurements obtained from a centrally inserted central catheter (CICC). If the
difference between the CVP measurements from the CICC and PICC are found to be clinically
insignificant, then it may be practical to place PICCs in favor of CICCs thereby avoiding
some of the potential complications associated with CICC placement. We also aim to evaluate
whether or not the duration of CICC placement affects the differences in CVP measurements
between the CICCs and PICCs. We hypothesize that the differences between the CVP
measurements of the CICCs and PICCs will be clinically insignificant.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Subject's ability to lay in a supine position with their hands at their sides during
CVP measurements

- A consent form signed by the patient or patient's representative

- Subjects that are age 18-90

- Subjects that have an indwelling CICC and are transitioning to a PICC for long-term
IV access

- CICC placed in the internal jugular vein or subclavian vein position

Exclusion Criteria:

- Inability to obtain consent

- Subjects under 18 years of age

- Non-English speaking subjects

- Subjects that are unable to lay flat due to pulmonary complications, increased
intracranial pressure (ICP), or unstable spinal cord injuries

- Subjects with known cardiac abnormalities (atrial septal defects or ventricular
septal defects, severe tricuspid valve disease, severe pulmonary hypertension,
Ejection fraction < 15%)

- Prisoners

- Subjects with known upper extremity deep vein thromboses (subclavian or distal)

- Subjects with non-functional CICC or PICC distal ports

- Subjects with femoral CICCs

- Pregnant women