Pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP) is a medical tool used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. It measures left ventricular end diastolic pressure and can be used to diagnose various conditions such as shock, valvular disease, and pulmonary embolism. The procedure involves inserting a balloon-tipped catheter into the pulmonary artery and measuring pressures. Complications can occur, including pulmonary artery rupture and cardiac arrhythmia.
Pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP) is a diagnostic and therapeutic medical tool for making measurements, using a balloon wedged in a pulmonary catheter and inflated within a pulmonary artery. After inflation, the balloon can measure left ventricular end diastolic pressure. The meter can measure distinctive differences between arterial and venous pressures, which may be due to arterial venous malformations (AVMs). PWP can be used during surgical procedures and for the management of many serious and critical illnesses.
Some of the diagnostic uses of pressure wedge pulmonary catheterization are for states of shock, valvular disease, pulmonary embolism, and cardiac tamponade, which is a collection of blood in the pericardium causing compression. It can also be used to diagnose severe burns, multiple organ failure, and idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary edemas exceeding certain levels are a life-threatening condition, and through periodic measurements of capillary wedge pressure, a physician can effectively tailor the use of diuretics. Additionally, the breathing patterns of heart failure patients can be closely monitored to determine whether habitual shallow breathing is exacerbating their condition, requiring further treatment to prevent heart failure from recurring.
Pressures are measured by inserting the balloon-tipped catheter into peripheral veins and through these veins into the right atrium of the heart and from there into the pulmonary arteries. The systolic and diastolic pressure measurements provide right atrial pressure readings, and when the balloon deflates once more, the left atrial pressures are estimated. The catheter, also known as a Swan-ganz catheter, is often guided by a fluoroscope.
Pulmonary wedge pressure measures changes in pulmonary water, which can signal pulmonary venoconstrictions in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and hypoxemia. Uses of wedge pulmonary pressure readings from patients undergoing procedures inform physicians in calculations of cardiac output, which indicates how much function may be affected by procedures. Cardiac function and hemodynamic readings from anesthetized patients can instruct a monitoring anesthesiologist when to signal that therapeutic interventions are needed.
In the evaluation of shock states, pulmonary wedge pressure readings may be taken to determine if tachycardia or hypotension is present, if there are inadequate ventricular fillings, or if severe depression of cardiac performance has placed a patient in a state of cardiogenic shock . In the case of mitral valve leaks, often caused by congenital heart conditions or mitral valve damage from rheumatic fever, the PWP may observe waveforms signaling rupture of the papillary muscles. In cases of septic shock, which is the most common form of intensive care unit (ICU) deaths in the United States, a PWP reading can detect low filling pressures that inform of profound peripheral vasodilation that robs organs of blood.
The risks and possible complications of using a pulmonary catheter show that the most common and serious complication is pulmonary artery rupture. Naturally, the skill of the operator and the state of the patients affect any complications that may arise. A common complication of pulmonary catheter insertion is cardiac arrhythmia.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
