Venous return physiology

OBJECTIVES: Norepinephrine exerts venoconstriction that could increase both the mean systemic pressure and the resistance to venous return, but this has not yet been investigated in human septic shock. We examined the relative importance of both effects and the resulting effect on venous return when decreasing the dose of norepinephrine. SETTING: Intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Sixteen septic shock patients. MEASUREMENTS: For estimating the venous return curve, we constructed the regression line between the pairs of cardiac index (pulse contour analysis) and central venous pressure values...

OBJECTIVE: To provide a conceptual and clinical review of the physiology of the venous system as it is related to cardiac function in health and disease. DATA: An integration of venous and cardiac physiology under normal conditions, critical illness, and resuscitation. SUMMARY: The usual clinical teaching of cardiac physiology focuses on left ventricular pathophysiology and pathology. Due to the wide array of shock states dealt with by intensivists, an integrated approach that takes into account the function of the venous system and its interaction with the right heart may be more useful...

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OBJECTIVE: To provide a conceptual and clinical review of the physiology of the venous system as it is relates to cardiac function in health and disease. DATA: An integration of venous and cardiac physiology under normal conditions, critical illness, and resuscitation. SUMMARY: The usual teaching of cardiac physiology focuses on left ventricular function. As a result of the wide array of shock states with which intensivists contend, an approach that takes into account the function of the venous system and its interaction with the right and left heart may be more useful...