The balloon-tipped catheter used to measure wedge pressure and left atrial pressure is called?

The balloon-tipped catheter used to measure wedge pressure and left atrial pressure is called?

• A. Balloon catheter
• B. Thermodilution catheter
• C. CVP line
• D. Bronchoscopy

Answer: (A)

Wedge pressure is obtained with a balloon-tipped pulmonary artery catheter, often called a Swan-Ganz catheter. The balloon is briefly inflated and the catheter is advanced into a small branch of the pulmonary artery. When the balloon occludes the artery, the pressure measured beyond the balloon reflects the left atrial pressure, because the blood column between the catheter tip and the left heart is held still. This wedge pressure serves as an indirect measure of left-sided filling pressure and helps assess left heart function and causes of pulmonary edema. The other options serve different purposes: a thermodilution catheter measures cardiac output, a CVP line records central venous pressure, and bronchoscopy is an airway visualization procedure.

Wedge pressure is obtained with a balloon-tipped pulmonary artery catheter, often called a Swan-Ganz catheter. The balloon is briefly inflated and the catheter is advanced into a small branch of the pulmonary artery. When the balloon occludes the artery, the pressure measured beyond the balloon reflects the left atrial pressure, because the blood column between the catheter tip and the left heart is held still. This wedge pressure serves as an indirect measure of left-sided filling pressure and helps assess left heart function and causes of pulmonary edema. The other options serve different purposes: a thermodilution catheter measures cardiac output, a CVP line records central venous pressure, and bronchoscopy is an airway visualization procedure.