Ultrasound to estimate JVP
The angle of the bed should be adjusted to put the meniscus of the Jugular veins between the angle of the mandible and clavicle, similar to estimating JVP visually.
The operating characteristics are similar as to estimating JVP visually. In one study of 119 ED patients it had a +LR 2.4 and -LR 0.01 (Jang et al. Am J Emerg Med 2011). Therefore, it may be most useful for excluding CHF as a cause of dyspnea.
Jump to discussion of discriminating CHF from other causes of dyspnea in the ED.
