ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Measurement of central venous pressure (CVP) is a reliable method for evaluating intravascular volume status and cardiac function; however it is an invasive and expensive method that may result in some complications such as arterial puncture, pneumothorax and development of infections. This study was performedto compare CVP measurements between central and peripheral catheters in infant and children with congenital heart disease. METHODS: The CVP and peripheral venous pressure (PVP) were measured simultaneously in 30 patients within 10 consecutive hours. RESULTS: The mean difference between CVP and PVP was 1.48±0.98 mmHg. The linear regression equation showed that CVP was 0.374+0.774 PVP (r(2) = 0.725). CONCLUSION: PVP measured from a peripheral intravenous catheter in infants and children with congenital heart disease is an accurate estimation of CVP and its changes has good concordance with CVP over a long period of time.
ABSTRACT
The patient, a 17 year old boy, had undergone a Rastelli operation for transposition of the great arteries plus ventricular septal defect and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction at the age of 7 years. Associated tricuspid valve stenosis was treated with insertion of a second homograft shortly after the Rastelli operation. The patient remained symptom-free for 10 years, when he suffered femoral artery embolus. Investigation showed severe obstruction of both conduits and biventricular dysfunction with thrombus in the left ventricle. After embolectomy and stabilisation of his general condition and prolonged treatment with heparin, he underwent uneventful replacement of the two conduits. He remains well, 8 months after the operation.
