2. Definition
Oscillating top of vertical column of blood in
the right internal jugular vein that reflects
the pressure changes in the right atrium in
cardiac cycle
3. Why Internal Jugular Vein instead
of External Jugular Vein?
The internal jugular vein, SVC and RA are in
continuity
(height of jugular venous pulsation = right atrial
pressure)
Normally,right atria pressure < 7mmHg
External jugular vein :
- has valve & not directly align with SVC and
RA
- passes through fascial planes = extrinsic
compression can alter the blood flow
4. Jugular Vein Carotid Artery
Palpable pulsation No Yes
Pulsation obliterated by
pressure above the
clavicle
Yes No
Level of pulse wave Decreased on inspiration,
increased on expiration
No effects
Pulsations per systole 2 (x and y descents) 1
Prominent descents yes no
Effect of abdominal
pressure on pulsations
Pulsations sometimes
more prominent
No effect
5. Common cases of elevated JVP
CARDIAC CAUSES NON CARDIAC CAUSES
Congestive heart failure Superior vena caval obstruction
Right ventricular infarction Massive ascites
Pericardial effusion Pleural effusion
Constrictive pericarditis Iatrogenic fluid overload (
surgical and renal patients )
Pulmonary embolism
Tricuspid valve disease ( tricuspid
regurgitation and tricuspid
stenosis )
Cardiac tamponade
Restrictive/hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy
Cor pulmonale
8. Chief complaints
1) Breathlessness
2) Palpitation
3) Pitting edema
4) Abdominal distension
5) Syncope (transient loss of consciousness
with postural collapse due to hypoperfusion
of brain)
6) Fatigue
9. History of presenting illness
Breathlessness
- Paroxysmal nocturnal
dyspnoea (PND),
Exertional dyspnoea,
Orthopnea
• Onset
• Duration
• Description
• Progression
• Aggravating factor:
sleep, exertion, posture
• Relieving factor: Drugs
• Associated symptoms:
Nausea, Vomiting,
Dizziness
Palpitation
- Onset : -sudden
(cardiac
arrhythmias)
- gradual (sinus
tachycardia)
Pitting Edema
- usually symmetrical
- worse in the evenings
with improvement
during the night
- may be symptom of
biventricular failure/RVF
secondary to other
causes
10. Past history:
Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart problems, fits,
collapses, angina, cardiac procedures/surgeries (type and
date of intervention and outcome), RF or heart problems
as a child, cardiac tamponade, constrictive pericarditis
Personal history:
Smoking (pack years), alcohol intake, obesity, weight loss,
diet, bowel and micturition habits
Family history:
Genetic disorders, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart
diseases, MI, mitral valve prolapse, relative with similar
problems, death among relatives
Social history:
Economic status, income, type of house, travel history,
sanitary facilities
11. Drug history :
Diuretics
Anti- hypertensive
Sublingual medications
Aspirin
Anti-coagulants
Beta-blockers
Digoxin
13. Examination of JVP
Position the patient supine, reclined at 45° with
the head on a pillow to relax sternocleidomastoid
muscles
Look across the patient’s neck from the right side.
Use oblique lighting if the JVP is difficult to see.
Identify the jugular vein pulsation in the
suprasternal notch/behind the
sternocleidomastoid muscle
Use the abdomino-jugular test /occlusion to
confirm the JVP
The JVP is the vertical height in cm between the
upper limit of pulsation and sternal angle
Identify the timing and waveform of the pulsation
and note any abnormality.
14.
15. - ‘a’ wave- atrial systole
- ‘c’ wave- closure of tricuspid valve
- ‘x’ wave- atrial relaxation and due to
downward movement of tricuspid valve
during early right ventricular systole
- ‘v’ wave- venous filling right atrium and
when tricuspid valve is closed
- ‘y’ wave- tricuspid valve opening with right
atrial pressure decrease
16. JVP is elevated in states of fluid overload-
heart failure & in conditions with right heart
dilatation :eg- acute pulmonary embolism,
cor pulmonale
Extreme, non pulsatile elevation of JVP-
mechanical obstruction of superior vena
cava-lung cancer
Kussmaul’s sign: paradoxical rise of JVP
on inspiration- Pericardial constriction or
tamponade, congestive cardiac failure
Prominent ‘a’ wave: delayed or restricted
right ventricular filling - tricuspid stenosis,
pulmonary hypertension
17. Cannon waves : giant ‘a’ waves – right
atrium contracts against a closed tricuspid
valve.
a)Irregular canon waves are seen in
complete heart block and are due to
atrio-ventricular dissociation.
b) Regular cannon waves
- during junctional rhythm
- ventricular and supraventricular
tachycardia
• ‘cv’ wave -fusion of the ‘c’ and ‘v’ wave-
- Seen in tricuspid regurgitation
23. Constrictive Pericarditis
Increased JVP (pulsating)
Kussmaul’s sign
Failure in the appropriate fall of JVP
with inspiration indicates limited right
ventricular filling
Pericardial knock (early diastolic
sound)
Pericardial rub
24. SVC obstruction
Increased JVP (NON pulsating)
Difficulty in breathing
Edema of face and upper limb
Edema of neck (Collar of Stokes)
Distended veins in neck, upper chest
and arms
Pemberton’s sign
29. NON-PULSATILE ELEVATION
OF JVP
Diagnosis of venous obstruction can be confirmed
by :
Doppler ultrasound
Venography
Chest X-ray supplemented by CT-scan or MRI
31. 1. Heart failure (right-sided)
Biomarkers - BNP
ECG-abnormal, often shows Q wave
Echocardiograph
Serum urea, creatinine, electrolytes
Thyroid function
Chest X-ray - left ventricular dilatation
with regional or global contractile
impairment
32. MANAGEMENT
1. General Measure
Diet - good general nutrition and weight reduction for
the obese. Avoidance of high-salt foods and added salt,
especially for patients with severe congestive heart
failure
Alcohol - moderation or elimination of consumption.
Alcohol induced cardiomyopathy requires abstinence
Smoking – cessation
Exercise - regular moderate aerobic exercise within
limits of symptoms
2. Drug therapy
Diuretic, ACEI, ARB, Vasodilators, Beta-blocker, Digoxin,
Amiodarone
3. Implantable cardiac defibrillator and resynchronization
therapy
4. Coronary revascularization
33. 2.Tricuspid stenosis
-Raised JVP with prominent ‘a’ wave, and slow ‘y’
descent due to lost of normal rapid ventricular filling.
-Doppler echocardiography - the valve has similar
appearances to those of rheumatic mitral stenosis
-Raised JVP with ‘giant’ ‘v’ wave (a ‘cv’ wave replaces
the normal ‘x’ descent)
-Echocardiography may reveal dilatation of the RV.
3. Tricuspid regurgitation
35. 4. Pericardial effusion(Cardiac
Tamponade)
INVESTIGATIONS:
Echocardiograph for confirmation
ECG - low voltage QRS complexes with alternating
electrical axis
Tests for etiological diagnosis - Serology in SLE or
tuberculous disease
MANAGEMENT:
Pericardiocentesis (pericardial aspiration)
Surgical drainage
36. 5. Constrictive
Pericarditis
INVESTIGATION:
Chest X-ray - pericardial calcification on lateral film
Echocardiography
CT-scan or MRI - imaging the increased pericardial
thickness/calcification
Cardiac catheterization - equalization of diastolic
pressures in 4 cardiac chambers
Echo-Doppler studies
MANAGEMENT:
Surgical resection of the diseased pericardium (morbidity
50%)
37. 6.Pulmonary embolism
INVESTIGATION:
D-dimer
ECG - sinus tachycardia
Chest X-ray - wedge-shaped peripheral opacification, absent of pulmonary
vascular marking
Echocardiogram - dilated right heart in some cases of central PE
CT pulmonary angiogram
MANAGEMENT:
General measures - Oxygen, IV fluid or plasma expander, opiates, external
cardiac massage
Anticoagulants
Thrombolytic and surgical therapy
Caval filter - for those contraindicated in using anticoagulant
38. 7. Massive Ascites
INVESTIGATIONS:
Ultrasonography - in obese or those with small
volume of fluid
Paracentesis - for analysis
Serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG)
MANAGEMENTS:
Sodium and water restriction
Diuretics
Paracentesis
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent
shunt
Peritoneo-venous shunt