Feasibility and Utility of the Venous Excess Ultrasound Score to Detect and Grade Central Venous Pressure Elevation in Critically Ill Children

Objectives The Venous Excess Ultrasound (VExUS) score has been described as a useful tool to estimate the degree of venous congestion in adult patients. The present study aimed to analyze the feasibility and usefulness of the VExUS score to detect and grade central venous pressure (CVP) elevation in critically ill children. Methods A cross‐sectional pilot study was conducted in a tertiary‐care pediatric intensive care unit between November 2020 and June 2021. All children in whom CVP was monitored, were enrolled. At the time of central venous catheter placement, CVP and VExUS score grade were determined, analyzing the inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter and the hepatic (HVD), portal (PVD), and intrarenal (IRVD) venous Doppler waveforms. Results A total of 33 children were studied (median age 12.2 [interquartile range (IQR) 4.1–100.6] months old; median weight 8.5 [IQR 5.6–35] kg; 20 [60.6%] males). The VExUS score was successfully obtained in 100% of the patients and its severity was strongly associated with the CVP levels (P