The waveform of a pulmonary catheter, shown in the figure, is ...

[Kthamas]

The waveform of a pulmonary catheter, shown in the figure, is located in which of the following?
 
  a. Right atrium
  b. Pulmonary artery
  c. Right ventricle
  d. Pulmonary capillary with a wedge

Question 2

Which of the following measurements can be used to estimate right ventricular preload?
 
  a. Cardiac output
  b. Central venous pressure
  c. Pulmonary artery pressure
  d. Pulmonary artery occlusion pressure

[aprice35067]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The figure shows a systolic pressure of approximately 22 mm Hg and a diastolic of approximately 8-10 mm Hg. This falls within the normal pulmonary artery pressures of 15-35/5-15 mm Hg. The presence of the dicrotic notch is another hint that the catheter is in the pulmonary artery. The right atrial pressure is normally between 2 and 6 mm Hg. A catheter in the right ventricle would show pressures of 15-35/2-6 mm Hg. The pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP or PAOP) normally varies between 2 and 15 mm Hg.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Central venous pressure (CVP) is used to estimate the right ventricular preload. Pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) reflects the preload of the left ventricle. The pulmonary artery pres-sure is generated by the right ventricle ejecting blood into the pulmonary circulation, which acts as a resistance to the output from the right ventricle. The pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) is a measurement of right ventricular afterload. Cardiac output is the amount of blood that the heart pumps out each minute.

[Kthamas]

Excellent

[Joy Chen]

TYSM