IVC View

An inferior vena cava (IVC) view is very similar to the longitudinal aortic view, but lies to its right, and the transducer needs to look more into the chest. With a curvilinear transducer the marker faces cranially, as in the aortic view. Using a phased array transducer (in a cardiac preset) the marker faces caudally. This longitudinal subxiphoid window views the IVC as it passes posterior to the liver and into the heart.

The IVC is identified lying posterior to the liver receiving hepatic veins anteriorly before it passes through the diaphragm and into the right atrium. The point to identify for interpretation (more later) is 2cm distal to the atrio-caval junction.