Limitations of the Wedge Pressure Measurement
Abstract
The pulmonary artery wedge pressure, obtained with a balloon catheter wedged in a branch of the pulmonary artery, is used in the clinical cardiovascular setting as an estimate of left atrial pressure (LAP). The theory behind this indirect LAP, which is that LAP is reflected back through the pulmonary circulation to the blocked point, where pressure is measured, is too simplistic and generally unsupported. The literature concerning the relationship includes studies with a variety of conditions and sample populations, and thus, contains seemingly conflicting reports on the reliability of PAW as an indication of LAP. For this reason, the problem was approached in an engineering fashion, and a model of the system was developed. The model, although simple, is valuable as an educational tool to better understand the system itself, and as a means of integrating the results of studies in the literature.
Description
Program year: 1977-1978Digitized from print original stored in HDR
Citation
Gillig, Julie A. (1978). Limitations of the Wedge Pressure Measurement. University Undergraduate Fellows. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /CAPSTONE -GilligJ _1978.