← Back to Ultrasound Journal

A Guyton-based hypothesis for venous congestion

Abstract

Despite much research and opinion, the underpinnings of venous congestion remain elusive. Many posit that elevated right atrial pressure (P_RA) is the primum movens of venous congestion. However, a recent Geometrical model (GM) built from Guyton’s framework advances that P_RA is a dependent variable. The GM predicts that: 1.) venous Doppler patterns do not reflect volume state or responsiveness; 2.) venous congestion is not caused by P_RA and, in fact, may occur with a low or normal P_RA; and 3.) that venous Doppler patterns correspond to transmural rather than absolute P_RA.

← Back to Ultrasound Journal