E-Challenge - Femoral Vein Pulsatility: What Does it Mean?

In this report, the clinical evolution of a 72-year-old patient transferred to the surgical intensive care unit following cardiac surgery is described. The presence of a pulsatile Doppler signal of the common femoral vein was noted following surgery. On post-operative day five, diuretics in addition to combination of inhaled epoprostenol and milrinone were associated with normalization of femoral vein pulsatility. The observations seen in peripheral venous flow reinforce the hypothesis that pulsatility of the common femoral vein represents an associated echocardiographic sign of right ventricular dysfunction and may be used to monitor systemic venous congestion.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Source Type: research