Syllabus · Current · V5 (2025) · Cardiovascular System
D6 · Cardiovascular Measurement
D6.iii · CVP Monitoring
Describe the measurement and interpretation of central venous pressure monitoring including: a. method of measurement, b. limitations and potential sources of error, c. methods used to minimise error and artefact including the need for calibration, d. normal and abnormal values and waveforms where relevant.
Written examination
SAQ history
Central Venous Pressure: Determinants & Measurement
2 exam appearances
Outline the factors that determine central venous pressure (60% marks) and explain how it is measured (40% marks).
57%
Outline the factors that determine central venous pressure and explain how it is measured.
18%
Oral examination
VIVA history
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2024A · Day 2 · VIVA 2
This VIVA will examine cardiovascular physiology and monitoring. Relate the parts of the cardiac cycle and ECG to the CVP waveform below? (Image removed from report.)
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2022A · Day 2 · VIVA 7
This viva will explore your understanding of central venous pressure. Describe the components of this normal waveform. (Image removed from report.)
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2021B · Day 1 · VIVA 7
This viva will assess your knowledge of central venous pressure (CVP) and its measurement. What are the cardiac events related to the roman numerals in the CVP trace below? (Image removed from report).
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2020B · Day 3 · VIVA 5
This viva will explore your knowledge of central venous pressure. Can you describe the cardiac events that give rise to the labelled fluctuations in right atrial pressure? (Image removed from report.)
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2017B · Day 3 · VIVA 7
This viva is on right heart physiology. Draw the right atrial pressure trace.
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2017A · Day 2 · VIVA 6
This viva will test your knowledge of anatomy and physiology related to central venous pressure. Identify the structures on the diagram below. Which nerve is anatomically associated with structures 2 and 7? (Image removed.)
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2016B · Day 2 · VIVA 4
This viva tested knowledge of newborn physiology including the transitional circulation, temperature regulation and respiratory physiology. It went on to discuss principles of ultrasounds and central venous pressure measurement.
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2013A · VIVA 5
This Viva explored knowledge of the pressure waveforms associated with the right side of the heart. Candidates were first asked to draw the right atrial pressure trace (central venous pressure) and describe its features.
Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.