Assessment of Local Venous Pulse Wave Velocity Using Single-Site Methods- A Pilot Study

There has been a growing interest in assessing pulse wave velocity (PWV) in the veins with studies highlighting their potential in elucidating the vascular indices such as the venous pressure changes, venous return dynamics, venous insufficiency, and volaemic status. Despite their clinical significance, the measurements are limited due to the challenges associated with reliable venous pressure assessments. The local venous pulse wave velocity (vPWV) refers to the speed of pulse propagation within a targeted vein. Conventionally, PWV is calculated using a pulse-transit time-based approach where the venous pulses are measured from two known locations, necessitating the acquisition of high-fidelity venous pulses and demanding operator expertise. This study explores the feasibility of measuring local venous pulse wave velocity using established single-site measurement approaches employed in the arterial domain. These methods rely on simultaneous diameter and blood flow velocity signals from the vessel, employing the diameter-flow velocity (ln(D)U) and area-flow rate (QA) relationship in the vein. A pilot feasibility study was conducted on 16 participants aged 20–35 years, with the internal jugular vein selected as the target vein due to its proximity to the right atrium. Jugular venous diameter and flow velocity signals were captured at a resolution of 2 ms (frame rate = 500 Hz), and local vPWV values were derived. The in vivo measurements yielded local vPWV values, ranging from 0.5 ms
^-1
to 2.2 ms
^-1
, consistent with earlier literature findings. Furthermore, both measurement approaches demonstrated a significant correlation (r = 0.95, p < 0.05), validating their efficacy in assessing local venous pulse wave velocity.