Page 26 - Critical Care Notes

4223_Tab01_001-044 29/08/14 10:46 AM Page 20

BASICS

As the catheter moves Pulmonary
into the pulmonary artery
artery, the systolic
pressure remains the 40
same, but the diastolic
pressure elevates to
20
10–15 mm Hg. mm Hg 30 Balloon
10 catheter
0
Time
The catheter is Pulmonary
moved until it can artery wedge
be wedged in a 40
smaller vessel. When
the balloon is inflated,
20
the pressure recorded mm Hg 30
is that pressure in 10
front of the catheter. Balloon
It is an approximate catheter 0
measure of the left Time
ventricular end-
diastolic pressure.
Problems With Pulmonary Artery Catheters

Problem Check For/Action
No waveform • Loose connections
• Tubing kinked or compressed
• Air in transducer
• Loose/cracked transducer
• Stopcock mispositioned
• Occlusion by clot: Aspirate as per policy
Overdamping (smaller waveform • Air bubble or clot in the system
with slow rise, diminished or • Catheter position: Reposition patient or
absent dicrotic notch) have patient cough
• Kinks or knotting
• Clot: Aspirate as per policy
Continued
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