Studies of Jugular Pressure

It is well known that neck compression increases jugular venous pressure cranial to the compression and consequently ICP. Thus, the Queckenstedt manoeuvre, bilateral neck compression and coughing inevitably result in an increase in ICP. In contrast, clinical studies, including patients with space-occupying cerebral processes, have demonstrated that elevation of the head results in a decrease in ICP, while the head down position results in an increase in ICP. To what extent, however, rotation of the head results in changes in jugular venous pressure is sparsely investigated. In this chapter the results of two studies of jugular pressure and the effect of neck movement, and the influence of the sitting position with either anti-G-suit or application of positive end-expiratory pressure are presented.