pulmonary-capillary wedge pressure


pulmonary-capillary wedge pressure

A key indicator of cardiac function and of intravascular and pulmonary venous volume; PCWP has been traditionally monitored in acutely ill Pts using a balloon-tipped flow-directed catheter wedged in an arteriole of pulmonary circulation, to determine pressure in the pulmonary capillaries and left atrium Cons Invasive; may cause serious complications; PCWP can also be determined by a noninvasive procedure, the pulse-amplitude ratio