Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) question

[Bluesaurus]

I know that a Swan-Ganz catheter can be used to measure left heart function.

However, I remember another catheter in surgery that could help measure right heart function, but I can't remember the name of it or how it worked?

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[jdh71]

I know that a Swan-Ganz catheter can be used to measure left heart function.

However, I remember another catheter in surgery that could help measure right heart function, but I can't remember the name of it or how it worked?

Different than a Swan? Maybe they referred to it as a "PA" catheter? It's the same thing.

 

[Bluesaurus]

No this was a method of monitoring right ventricular function. I'm rechecking my 2ck archive and I'm hoping I bump back into the 1-2 questions that mentioned it because it's been bothering me.

 

[Reductio]

I know that a Swan-Ganz catheter can be used to measure left heart function.

However, I remember another catheter in surgery that could help measure right heart function, but I can't remember the name of it or how it worked?

Swan is for right heart.... not left.

It estimates the pressure of the left atrium with the PCWP

A left heart cath would come in from the other direction.

 

[jdh71]

Swan is for right heart.... not left.

It estimates the pressure of the left atrium with the PCWP

A left heart cath would come in from the other direction.

PCWP and cardiac index will allow you deduce much about left heart function

 

[Bluesaurus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_wedge_pressure

From wiki PCWP of >20mmHg can mean pulm edema and is used to diagnose mitral stenosis and left ventricular failure.

Basically you're getting an indirect measure of L atrial pressure.

But back to my question, there is a way to measure the Right, and it's not the Swanz-Ganz.

 

[richse]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulmonary_wedge_pressure

From wiki PCWP of >20mmHg can mean pulm edema and is used to diagnose mitral stenosis and left ventricular failure.

Basically you're getting an indirect measure of L atrial pressure.

But back to my question, there is a way to measure the Right, and it's not the Swanz-Ganz.

It sounds like you are saying the Swanz-Ganz doesn't measure the right heart. You know it goes through the right heart to get the PCWP measurement. It can definitely measure the right sided function while it's in there. I'm not saying that there aren't other types in use, but it will do what you are asking about as well.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

It sounds like you are saying the Swanz-Ganz doesn't measure the right heart. You know it goes through the right heart to get the PCWP measurement. It can definitely measure the right sided function while it's in there. I'm not saying that there aren't other types in use, but it will do what you are asking about as well.

So Im no CT surgeon, but in a patient with an LVAD and RVAD there was both an arterial line for BP, a Swanz-Ganz for PCWP, and a measurement for CVP. I think he might be asking about monitoring Central Venous Pressure. I don't know what line specifically monitors it, but if I follow the logic of the question...

"Measuring Lungs = Left Heart Function, what = Right Heart Function" is probably CVP you're speaking of?