title: Comparisons of pulmonary artery pressure measurements in supine and 30 degree lateral positions.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects on pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) measurements of using different anatomical reference points for transducer placement. Supine and 30 degree right and left lateral PAP measurements were examined in a sample of 40 hemodynamically stable post-cardiovascular surgery patients. The anatomical references for transducer placement were (a) the supine phlebostatic axis, (b) the right lateral phlebostatic axis, and (c) the mid-sternum at the fourth intercostal space. The results of analysis of variance procedures for repeated measures showed lateral compared to supine PAP measurements differed significantly regardless of the anatomical reference used for the transducer placement (p = < .0001). Clinically insignificant differences in supine and lateral PAP measurements were shown when the transducer reference was the supine phlebostatic axis. Use of the right lateral phlebostatic axis and the mid-sternum did result in clinically significant changes in lateral compared to supine PAP measurements. Implications for research and for clinical practice are discussed.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods*; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D016683:Supine Position; D014159:Transducers