Avoiding respiratory excursions: obtaining reliable pulmonary capillary wedge pressures.
The pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) value provides valuable assessment data to guide therapeutic interventions. Proper interpretation of PCWP becomes complicated when respiratory excursions are imposed upon the pressure waveform. Critical care nurses and advanced practice nurses who understand the mechanics of this respiratory effect can accurately interpret the PCWP.
Cathelyn
J
J
Johnson City Medical Center, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics