WEDGE PRESSURE Meaning and
Definition
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Wedge pressure, also known as pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) or pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP), refers to the measurement of blood pressure within the pulmonary capillaries and left atrium of the heart. It is an important clinical parameter used to assess cardiac function and fluid status in patients, particularly those with heart or lung diseases.
Wedge pressure is typically measured by a small balloon-tipped catheter that is advanced through a blood vessel and into the pulmonary artery. Once in place, the balloon is inflated and the catheter is subsequently withdrawn until the balloon wedges into a small branch of the pulmonary artery, temporarily occluding blood flow. This creates a pressure similar to that exerted by the left atrium, allowing for an indirect measurement of left atrial pressure.
The wedge pressure measurement provides valuable information about the blood volume in the left atrium and indicates the fluid status within the pulmonary circulation. It is commonly used to evaluate cardiac function, assess the severity of heart failure, guide fluid management, and monitor the response to treatment. Abnormal wedge pressure values may indicate fluid overload, left ventricular dysfunction, valve abnormalities, or pulmonary hypertension.
In summary, wedge pressure is the measurement of blood pressure within the pulmonary capillaries and left atrium, providing crucial insights into cardiac function and fluid balance in patients with heart or lung diseases.
Common Misspellings for WEDGE PRESSURE
- qedge pressure
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- sedge pressure
- eedge pressure
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- 2edge pressure
- wwdge pressure
- wsdge pressure
- wddge pressure
- wrdge pressure
- w4dge pressure
- w3dge pressure
- wesge pressure
- wexge pressure
- wecge pressure
- wefge pressure
- werge pressure
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- wedfe pressure
- wedve pressure
Etymology of WEDGE PRESSURE
The term "wedge pressure" is derived from the shape of a pulmonary artery catheter or a Swan-Ganz catheter used to measure the pressure within the pulmonary capillaries. The catheter has a balloon at its distal end, which is inflated and "wedged" or lodged into a small arterial branch of the pulmonary circulation. This allows the measurement of pressure in the pulmonary capillaries, also known as the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP). Therefore, the term "wedge pressure" is used to refer to the pressure measured by this technique.
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