Final answer:
CVP stands for Central Venous Pressure, a vital metric used in healthcare primarily during surgery or in intensive care to assess a patient's venous blood pressure, flow, and heart function. It is measured in millimeters of mercury and requires an invasive procedure using a catheter.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of medical monitoring, CVP stands for Central Venous Pressure. It is a critical measurement, especially during surgery or for patients in intensive care, since it gives an indication of the blood pressure within the vein, blood flow within the vein, and the return of blood to the heart. The unit used to express pressures within the cardiovascular system, including CVP, is millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
To measure CVP, healthcare professionals utilize an invasive technique where a catheter is inserted into central veins like the jugular or subclavian vein. This catheter transmits pressure readings to external measuring devices. Monitoring CVP helps physicians to assess and manage various medical conditions, including fluid balance and heart function. While it's a valuable tool in critical care settings, measuring CVP is not part of routine blood pressure monitoring procedures like those involving a sphygmomanometer, which is typically used to measure arterial pressure.