Assessment Of Jugular Vein Pressure In COPD Patients

Abstract

Patients COPD and heart failure have a combined obstructive and restrictive type of pulmonary dysfunction .COPD is characterized by obstructed airflow, destruction of pulmonary tissue in emphysema and respiratory muscles weakness. In turns progressive heart enlargement taking thoracic space , venous congestion interstitial fibrosis pleural effusion all contribute to the pulmonary compression in heart failure . In COPD decrease in oxygen arterial pressure and an increase in carbon dioxide arterial pressure there will be alteration of lung diffusion capacity due to thickening of alveolar septa, reduction in alveolar- capillary membrane conductance which may lead to heart failure. COPD is commonly associated with heart failure in clinical practice. Heart failure is prevalent in more than 20% of patients with COPD. Both condition has significant morbidity and mortality. The jugular vein pressure is a very useful clinical marker in many situation . External jugular vein is superficial and easy to palpate. It is the easiest method for diagnosing right side heart failure. Hence to evaluate jugular vein pressure as early diagnostic sign of heart failure in COPD patients. Total 50 patients above the age of 30 years, both male & female suffering from COPD (GOLD criteria I, II, III, IV) were taken for the study, patients with other cardiorespiratory conditions were excluded. GOLD criterion with peak flow meter and JVP was measured. It was found that That jugular vein pressure was raised than the normal reference range, in patients with severe grade of GOLDS criteria.