Innovative Ultrasound Technique Validated for Noninvasive Central Venous Pressure Measurement

A recent clinical pilot study has demonstrated the effectiveness of a novel noninvasive method to measure central venous pressure (CVP) using quantitative compression ultrasound (QCU). Conducted by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), this advancement offers a promising alternative to traditional invasive techniques, which often involve risks and require significant resources.

The study enrolled 11 patients from MGH's cardiac intensive care unit, all with standard central venous catheters. Researchers captured QCU data, including high-resolution ultrasound images of the internal jugular vein (IJV), while simultaneously recording the force applied to the skin surface. These measurements were then compared to the gold-standard invasive CVP readings obtained directly from the catheters. In addition, jugular venous pulsation height (JVP), a common noninvasive clinical measurement, was assessed in some patients for comparison.

Results showed a strong correlation between the force needed to fully occlude the IJV, known as the collapse force (CF), and invasive CVP measurements. Statistical analysis revealed an r² value of 0.82, with a mean absolute error just over 1 mmHg. When accounting for hydrostatic pressure, the correlation slightly improved to 0.83. Conversely, JVP showed a weaker correlation with CVP, with an r² of 0.45.

The implications of these findings are significant for clinical practice. Accurate and noninvasive CVP assessment can enhance patient management in conditions like heart failure and sepsis, where CVP guides treatment decisions. Compared to invasive methods, QCU reduces risk, discomfort, and resource utilization, and surpasses traditional methods like JVP in reliability.

Led by experts from MIT and Harvard Medical School, including Alex T. Jaffe, Roger Pallarès-López, Jeffrey K. Raines, and Aaron D. Aguirre, this research paves the way for broader application of ultrasound technology in patient care. The study underscores the potential of QCU to transform circulatory assessment by enabling more frequent, safe, and precise monitoring, particularly in settings constrained by resources.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-noninvasive-ultrasound-method-central-venous.html