Hemodynamic Monitoring Flashcards

A large 'v' wave seen on the PCWP tracing is most characteristic of:

Answer: Acute mitral regurgitation

Acute mitral regurgitation causes large 'v' waves because regurgitant volume floods the non-compliant left atrium during systole.

Which complication of pulmonary artery catheter insertion is characterized by sudden onset of hypoxemia and chest pain with a new pleural effusion on X-ray?

Answer: Pulmonary artery rupture

Pulmonary artery rupture is a rare but life-threatening complication causing hemoptysis, hemothorax, and hypoxemia, often precipitated by balloon overinflation.

When measuring PCWP, the balloon should be inflated with no more than:

Answer: 1.5 mL of air

Standard pulmonary artery catheters require a maximum of 1.5 mL of air to float the balloon into the wedge position.

The Fick method for calculating cardiac output requires measurement of:

Answer: Oxygen consumption and arteriovenous O₂ content difference

The Fick method calculates CO = O₂ consumption / (arterial O₂ content − venous O₂ content), requiring both oxygen consumption (VO₂) and A-V O₂ difference.

Which of the following would cause an artificially LOW arterial blood pressure reading from an arterial line?

Answer: Air bubbles in the tubing

Air bubbles are compressible and damp the pressure waveform, causing underestimation of systolic pressure and loss of waveform fidelity.

Normal right ventricular systolic pressure is approximately:

Answer: 20–30 mmHg

Normal RV systolic pressure is 20–30 mmHg, equal to pulmonary artery systolic pressure in the absence of pulmonic valve stenosis.

A patient receiving vasopressors has a MAP of 70 mmHg, CVP of 14 mmHg, and CO of 3.5 L/min. The SVR is approximately:

Answer: 1280 dyne·sec·cm⁻⁵

SVR = (MAP − CVP) / CO × 80 = (70 − 14) / 3.5 × 80 = 56 / 3.5 × 80 = 1280 dyne·sec·cm⁻⁵.