Central venous pressure (CVP) is a measurement of the pressure in the vena cava, which is the large vein that carries blood from the upper body to the heart. CVP is a useful measurement because it can provide information about the volume of blood in the body, the heart’s function, and the adequacy of blood flow to the organs.
CVP is typically measured in millimeters of water (mm H2O). A normal CVP is between 0 and 8 mm H2O. A CVP that is too high may indicate that the heart is not pumping effectively, or that there is too much fluid in the body. A CVP that is too low may indicate that the body is dehydrated, or that there is a problem with the blood vessels.
