Cardiac Output
Ever wonder what those numbers really mean???


1. PAP SYSTOLIC

PAP SYSTOLIC (Pulmonary Artery Pressure Systolic) represents the rapid blood flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery. Occurs with the opening of the pulmonic valve.
Normal: 15-30mmHg

Increase in PAS

Hypoxemia
ARDS
Pulmonary Hypertension
Left Ventricular Dysfunction which causes pulmonary overload

Decrease in PAS

Hypovolemia

2. PAP DIASTOLIC

PAP DIASTOLIC (Pulmonary Artery Pressure Diastolic) represents the diminished blood flow from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery. Occurs with the closure of the pulmonic valve.
Normal: 5-15mmHg

Increase in PAD

Pulmonary Emboli
Tachycardia
Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary Parenchymal Disease

Decrease on PAD

Hypovolemia

3. MPAP

MPAP (Mean Pulmonary Artery Pressure) is calculated as follows:

(DPAP x 2) + SPAP
3
Normal: 7-16mmHg

Increase in PAM

ARDS
Pulmonary Hypertension
Tachycardia

Decrease in PAM

Hypovolemia

4. PCWP

PCWP (Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure) is an indirect indicator of left ventricular filling pressure or preload. When the balloon of the PA catheter is inflated, a branch of the pulmonary artery is occluded. The pressure that is transmitted by the pulmonary vein is approximately the same as the lead atrial pressure because there are no valves is the lung vasculature that would create a change in pressure between the left ventricle and the pulmonary vein.
Normal: 8-12mmHg

Increase in PCWP

Intravascular Volume Overload
Mitral Valve Stenosis
Left Ventricular Failure
Cardiogenic Shock
High PEEP (to estimate PCWP when pt. is on PEEP: PCWP - 1/2PEEP = corrected PCWP)

Decrease in PCWP

Hypovolemia
Right Ventricular Infarction