Sun21November0452PM 4

Distortion of the trace seen in direct arterial monitoring is increased by:

True / False

Connections in the tubing Correct

Bubbles in the tubing Correct

Increasing the diameter of the tubing Incorrect answer selected

A clot in the cannula Correct

Shortening the tubing Correct

Explanation

To minimise distortion, the natural frequency of the monitoring system must be greater than that required for the harmonics of the input waveform (Fourier analysis breaks complex waves down into a fundamental frequency and its harmonics). In order to do this, the equipment should use short, stiff-walled wide catheter tubing, with no connectors and no bubbles.

Damping (a reduction of the speed in which changes in the input pressure are shown in the output) leads to distortion of the waveform if it is either too large or too small.

Bubbles and clots in the cannula will cause the signal to be over-damped.

Answer Statistics

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Average score: 75.02%

Times answered: 233