Sun21November0452PM 20

Are the following true or false concerning intra-arterial blood pressure monitoring?

True / False

Fluid-filled tubing conducts the intravascular pressure wave from the catheter tip to the transducer Correct

Shortening the lengths of tubing has a dampening effect Correct

Air bubbles cause a hyper-resonant trace Correct

Non-pressurised fluid is infused through the catheter Correct

The transducer should be at the same height as the catheter insertion point Correct

Explanation

Invasive arterial pressure monitoring provides beat-to-beat information with sustained accuracy. The intravascular pressure wave is conducted from the catheter tip, situated in the arterial lumen, to the transducer along fluid-filled tubing. Pressurised fluid is infused through the catheter continuously. The transducer is usually a strain gauge variable resistor which is connected to an amplifier and oscilloscope.

The transducer should be level with the heart on the phlebostatic axis (4th intercostal space, mid-axillary line) the approximate level of the atria.

Air bubbles and long catheter tubing have the effect of dampening the trace (waveform appears rounded). Increased damping usually lowers the systolic pressure and elevates the diastolic pressure.

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