What is the clinical significance of pulmonary artery wedge pressure

Pulmonary artery wedge pressure is one of the most important indicators during human examination and blood monitoring. This indicator largely reflects whether the lung function is good. Only when the pulmonary artery wedge pressure is maintained within the normal range can the occurrence of lung diseases be reduced and human health be ensured. As an important indicator, whether the pulmonary artery wedge pressure is high or low, it indicates that there are some diseases in the body. Therefore, once the pulmonary artery wedge pressure value becomes abnormal, you must follow the doctor's advice and adopt a reasonable treatment plan. The following article will give a detailed introduction to pulmonary artery wedge pressure, including the concept, normal value, clinical significance and other aspects of pulmonary artery wedge pressure!

1. Concept of pulmonary artery wedge pressure

It refers to the lateral pressure exerted on the pulmonary artery by blood flowing through the pulmonary circulation. It is directly measured by the distal end of the floating catheter and is divided into systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. The pulmonary circulation is a high-capacity, low-resistance system with greater elasticity and capacity reserve due to the thin and incomplete muscular wall of the pulmonary arteries. The total resistance of the arterial part of the pulmonary circulation is roughly equal to that of the venous part, so the pressure drop of blood flow in the arterial part is equal to the pressure drop in the venous part. Because the pulmonary circulation vessels have little resistance to blood flow, although the minute output of the right ventricle is basically equal to that of the left ventricle, the pulmonary artery pressure is much lower than the aortic pressure.

2. Normal range of pulmonary artery wedge pressure

The normal pulmonary artery pressure is directly measured by inserting a catheter: systolic pressure is 10-30 mmHg; diastolic pressure is 5-10 mmHg; mean pressure is 10 mmHg, and the mean pressure of the pulmonary circulation capillaries can be measured to be 7 mmHg.

3. Clinical significance of pulmonary artery wedge pressure

Pulmonary artery pressure is an important indicator of hemodynamic monitoring and can be directly measured at the distal end of the floating catheter.

1. Increased pulmonary artery pressure

(1) Seen in diseases that increase pulmonary vascular resistance, such as lung diseases and hypoxemia. Primary pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism.

(2) It occurs in diseases that increase pulmonary venous pressure, such as mitral valve disease and left ventricular failure, which increase pulmonary venous pressure and also cause increased pulmonary artery pressure.

(3) It occurs in diseases that increase pulmonary blood flow. Left-to-right shunts in the heart, such as atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect, can increase pulmonary vascular blood flow and pulmonary artery pressure.

2. Decreased pulmonary artery pressure

Hypovolemia can cause a decrease in pulmonary artery systolic and diastolic pressures.

Diseases that cause low pulmonary artery systolic pressure include: hypovolemia, pulmonary artery stenosis, supravalvular or subvalvular pulmonary stenosis, and tricuspid valve stenosis.