A Direct Method for the Determination of Venous Pressure; Relationship of Tissue Pressure to Venous Pressure

Abstract

Previous observations (2) Studies were made on ten normal subjects. Only subjects with prominent veins in the dorsum of the hand were chosen so as to facilitate the reading of the end point in the indirect venous pressure method. Subjects rested in the sitting position with the hand at heart level, fourth intercostal space. Indirect and direct venous pressures were determined for the same portion of the same vein on the dorsum of the hand. The subcutaneous tissue pressure was then measured in the tissues immediately surrounding the same portion of the vein.Determinations were made in the order given. The observer who read the end points was ignorant of the water manometer readings, which were recorded by another individual. In this way subjective influences were eliminated. Three readings were made in each instance. RESULTSThe results are given in Table I. Invariably, the indirect determinations were lower than the TABLE I