Prognostic value of central venous pressure in acute myocardial infarction

The investigations were carried out in 296 patients with myocardial infarction (238 men and 58 women) aged 24-91 years, admitted to an intensive care unit on the 1st or 2nd day of the disease. In all patients the catheter for determination of central venous pressure was introduced into the right atrium through the cephalic vein the the first 100 cases, and through the subclavian vein in 196 cases. The catheter was kept in the atrium for 3-4 days. Values of c.v.p. between 50 and 120 mm Hg were accepted as normal.