Influence of Head-of-bed Elevation on the Measurement of IVC Diameter and Collapsibility

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov February 5, 2020

In a population of critically ill patients undergoing goal-directed ultrasound examinations, elevating head-of-bed (HOB) to 30° did not significantly alter inferior vena cava (IVC) measurements or CI.

At 45°, however, IVCmax and IVCmin diameters increased significantly, albeit with no significant change in CI.

Performing ultrasound measurements of the IVC with HOB elevated to 30° is unlikely to produce clinically meaningful changes.

A convenience sample of 95 patients was studied, of whom 45% were on vasopressors and 44% were spontaneously breathing.

A prospective observational study was conducted of critically ill patients undergoing critical care ultrasound. With HOB at 0°, IVC maximum (IVCmax0°) and minimum (IVCmin0°) diameters were measured.