title: "Expiratory holding" approach in measuring end-expiratory pulmonary artery wedge pressure for mechanically ventilated patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To accurately measure the end-expiratory pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) with the "expiration holding" function on the ventilator and the "pulmonary artery wedge pressure review" software on the monitor.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty prospective measurements were made on 12 patients undergoing pulmonary artery catheter and mechanical ventilation. All measurements were divided into <8 mmHg or ≥8 mmHg subgroups according to respiratory variability, and they were then subdivided into either an airway pressure display measurement group (AM group) or an expiration holding (EH) group for comparison.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all measurements, the two groups showed similar levels of accuracy; however, for the time spent for measurement, the EH group was much faster than the airway pressure display measurement group (P<0.001). Additionally, the EH group was associated with lower medical costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expiration holding approach measured the PAWP more accurately, more quickly, and with reduced costs in comparison to the airway pressure display approach.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, the Fifth Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wanjie
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xuefeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Qingguo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Youzhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiuling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
keywords: eePAWP; expiration holding; mechanical ventilation; pulmonary artery catheter; pulmonary artery wedge pressure