Jugularvenenfüllung

Jugularvenenfüllung, also known as jugular venous distension or JVD, refers to the visible distension of the jugular veins in the neck. These veins are part of the venous system that returns deoxygenated blood from the head and neck to the heart. When the jugular veins become engorged, it typically indicates increased pressure within the right side of the heart or within the vena cava.

Several factors can cause jugularvenenfüllung. One of the most common causes is right-sided heart failure, where the heart's inability to pump blood effectively leads to a backup of blood in the venous circulation. Other cardiac conditions such as constrictive pericarditis or tricuspid regurgitation can also result in elevated right atrial pressure and thus jugular venous distension. Non-cardiac causes can include superior vena cava obstruction, which impedes blood flow back to the heart, or conditions that increase central venous pressure, such as certain respiratory maneuvers or fluid overload.

Assessing jugularvenenfüllung is a crucial part of a physical examination, particularly in evaluating patients with suspected cardiac or pulmonary disease. The measurement is typically performed with the patient lying at a 45-degree angle, and the height of the venous pulsation above the sternal angle is observed. This physical sign provides valuable diagnostic information about a patient's hemodynamic status.