What is the expected change in Central Venous Pressure during hypervolemia?

Central Venous Pressure (CVP) serves as an important indicator of right atrial pressure and overall fluid status in the body. During hypervolemia, which refers to an excessive volume of blood in the circulatory system, the body experiences an increase in intravascular volume. This increase leads to a rise in venous return to the heart.

Because CVP reflects the pressure in the thoracic vena cava, just before it enters the right atrium, an increase in blood volume causes the pressure in this central venous system to rise. Therefore, in hypervolemia, the excess fluid tends to elevate the pressure within the venous system, leading to an increase in CVP.

This increase in pressure can serve as a useful clinical indicator, assisting healthcare providers in assessing fluid status and guiding treatment decisions for conditions such as heart failure or fluid overload.