Pulmonary wedge pressure

Pulmonary artery catheter english

Pulmonary wedge pressure (PWP), also known as pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) or pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP), is a measure of the pressure within the pulmonary artery.

Overview

Pulmonary wedge pressure is a measurement used in medicine to estimate the pressure in the left atrium of the heart. This measurement is crucial in diagnosing and managing various cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure and pulmonary hypertension.

Measurement

Pulmonary wedge pressure is measured using a Swan-Ganz catheter, which is inserted into a vein and guided into the pulmonary artery. The catheter is then wedged into a small pulmonary blood vessel, effectively occluding it. The pressure in the vessel is then measured, providing an indirect estimate of the pressure in the left atrium.

Pulmonary wedge pressure

Clinical significance

Pulmonary wedge pressure is used to assess the function of the left side of the heart. Elevated PWP can indicate left-sided heart failure or mitral valve disease. Low PWP can suggest right-sided heart failure or hypovolemia. It is also used to differentiate between cardiogenic pulmonary edema and non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

See also

• Cardiac catheterization
• Pulmonary artery catheter
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Heart failure