title: The range of pulmonary artery catheter balloon inflation pressures.
abstract: Pulmonary artery catheters are frequently used and may be the cause of pulmonary artery rupture. The "feel" of balloon inflation, a clinical sign of a "wedged" catheter, was noted to vary among different manufacturers' catheters. The inflation pressures of five catheters from four manufacturers were examined in the laboratory. Peak pressures ranged from 475 +/- 10 mm Hg to 1,037 +/- 36.8 mm Hg. Plateau pressures ranged from 220 +/- 4 mm Hg to 495 +/- 2.9 mm Hg. Catheters with high inflation pressures may make detection of a wedged catheter by feel impossible and, thus, may increase the risk of a pulmonary artery rupture.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
authors: C G
authors: CG
authors: Durbin
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D008422:Materials Testing; D011312:Pressure; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D014160:Transducers, Pressure