The present invention comprises a novel method to utilize the diameter of the internal jugular vein, obtained using an ultrasound machine, to estimate a patient's volume status and cardiac ventricular function. In this technique, the ultrasound machine is used to measure the diameter of the internal jugular vein (IJV) lumen. In addition, the ultrasound machine is used to measure the respiratory variation in the IJV lumen diameter, measured as the difference between the maximum and minimum diameter divided by the maximum diameter and expressed as a percentage. The ultrasound machine is also used to identify a complete approximation of the IJV diameter into 0 millimeters with deep breathing and/or sniff. The above information is used to estimate the patient's volume and cardiac function status.
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