Abstract 13180: Ultrasound Jugular Venous Pressure Collapse Point Predicts Elevated Right Atrial Pressure on Right Heart Catheterization in Obese and Nonobese Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Accurate intravascular volume status assessment is central to heart failure management, but current non-invasive bedside techniques remain a challenge. Visual inspection of jugular venous pulsation (JVP) is used as a surrogate for central venous pressure (CVP). Studies have shown variability and inaccuracy of the JVP exam in estimating CVP or right atrial pressure (RAP). Published methods of RAP estimation through internal jugular vein (IJV) ultrasonography are either complex or require offline analysis. We validated a simplified approach to ultrasonography of the JVP (uJVP) as a method to predict RAP. Methods: Adult patients undergoing right heart catheterization (RHC) were enrolled prior for IJV imaging with point of care ultrasound (POCUS) device, Butterfly iQ™. The IJV was identified on ultrasound with the patient reclined (head of bed between 30-45°) and followed cranially until tapering smaller than the adjacent carotid artery throughout the entirety of the respiratory cycle. The height of this collapse point from the sternal angle added to 5 centimeters was defined as ultrasound JVP (uJVP). Results: 77 participants underwent uJVP assessment on the same day prior to RHC. Average BMI was 33 kg/m 2 . The area under the curve (AUC) of uJVP and RAP greater than 10mmHg on RHC was 0.879 (95% CI 0.759-0.931, p<0.001), with AUC of 0.972 and 0.818 for non-obese and obese subgroups respectively, and AUC of 0.876 for elevated RAP and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). A uJVP cutoff of 9 or higher was 85% sensitive and 72% specific at identifying RAP greater than 10mmHg. Conclusion: We developed and validated a novel technique identifying the uJVP using POCUS which correlates with invasive RAP regardless of obesity. This technique predicted combined elevated left and right sided intracardiac pressures. The uJVP’s potential to enhance the diagnostic value of the bed-side examination in an increasingly obese heart failure population warrants further research.