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Medical Definition of Valsalva manoeuvre
1. Any forced expiratory effort ("strain") against a closed airway, whether at the nose and mouth or at the glottis, the reverse of Muller's manoeuvre; because high intrathoracic pressure impedes venous return to the right atrium, this manoeuvre is used to study cardiovascular effects of raised peripheral venous pressure and decreased cardiac filling and cardiac output, as well as post-strain responses. (05 Mar 2000)