Arterial Line Question

Specialties CCU

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I'm precepting in CVICU which so far has been great. I'm curious about how an arterial line works. I understand what it's for, but don't understand how it works. Is pressure going through the line to keep the vessel open?

I hadn't seen that either, learn something new every day. A couple observations though.

1. the efficacy of reverse trendelenberg has been pretty much dismissed in all the literature I've seen and in my clinical practice so I really don't use it.

2. the conclusions state that there was a difference but not statistically significant in the trendelenberg position but then goes on to say "significant errors occur when subjects are in nonsupine positions." So... which is it?

3. Is the slight difference between the position of the aortic root and the phlebo axis going to be clinically significant?

txdude35 said:
I hadn't seen that either, learn something new every day. A couple observations though.

1. the efficacy of reverse trendelenberg has been pretty much dismissed in all the literature I've seen and in my clinical practice so I really don't use it.

2. the conclusions state that there was a difference but not statistically significant in the trendelenberg position but then goes on to say "significant errors occur when subjects are in nonsupine positions." So... which is it?

3. Is the slight difference between the position of the aortic root and the phlebo axis going to be clinically significant?

If you are referring to the use of reverse-T for BP management, I routinely see that it works for short term management- an acutely hypertensive pt will get some BP benefit from the venous pooling.That study shows more sig differences in reverse T than others.Re: the signfiicance of the difference:Circulation. 1995 Oct 1;92(7):1994-2000.Anatomically and physiologically based reference level for measurement of intracardiac pressures."CONCLUSIONS: External fluid-filled transducers should be used with the goal of removing hydrostatic pressure and other influences so that the presence of subatmospheric pressure during diastole in any of the cardiac chambers is accurately measured. To achieve this goal, intracardiac pressure should be referenced to an external fluid-filled transducer aligned with the uppermost blood level in the chamber in which pressure is to be measured. The current practice of referencing the zero level of LV diastolic pressure to an external fluid-filled transducer positioned at the midchest level results in systematic overestimation due to hydrostatic effects and produces physiologically significant error in the measurement of diastolic intracardiac pressure."

Cool, thanks for the info.

Specializes in OR, peds, PALS, ICU, camp, school.

I have a couple thoughts from the last few posts-

1- I always zero to phlebostatic... the aortic root propostion is new to me... thanks for the exposure. We do typically keep our alines and CVPs on the same holder though so it's not very feasible.

2- in post 23 "conclusions" mentions "Current recommendations that suggest placing the transducer at the level of catheter access regardless of patient position are invalid. Significant errors occur when subjects are in nonsupine positions." I've never heard of such a policy? Who would even imagine this is practical?

3- I'm confused by some discussion here about REVERSE T-burg... what about it is "dismissed"? We actually use it more for practical reasons than for interventional reasons- ie to keep HOB close to 30* for a vented pt who also has a fem line for IABP or CRRT. I believe neuro ICU uses it for increased ICP pts also but I try to shy away from those rooms when I float.

Specializes in CCU.

I have a question about getting all the air out of the bag before you prime the line and then > to the 300mm of pressure. For years I have always taken great pains to remove the air before I prime the pressure bag. I read ? an article some whre that stated it was a old sacred cow but I can't remember where I read it or maybe it was a seminar. Anyway it kinda made sense in that it was most important to have the line free of air and that the small amt of air in the bag would be pushed to the top when the bag was>to 300mm and would not enter the system. It was stressed the importance of never lying the bag on the bed during transfer or transport in that the the air in the chamber could enter the tubing. The question was raised about if the fluid got low in your system wouldn't air get pushed in the tubing and the answer was that the pressure in the body would be greater if the fluid ran out and you would see blood in the tubing then. So I have looked on several sites regrding this and it's about 60-40 in favor of getting the air out before you prime the the tubing. We don't have a policy that states this and I am currently a preceptor. Any hard facts and or opinions? Any thing evidence based?

Specializes in cardiology, alternative medicine.

I know zeroing the art line and flushing it are done together but I am unsure which is done first. Or, does it matter? Thanks in advance..

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Well, you're not actually flushing the line when you zero, you're doing a square wave test. For this, you pull on/push on (depending on the brand of transducer you have) the fast-flush device briefly while watching the waveform on the monitor. You should see a "square wave" where the waveform rises, flattens out for a space then rapidly returns to the baseline with minimal zig-zagging at the baseline. This tells you that your line is optimally damped. This means that you have the scale for the pressure being monitored set correctly and thus your waveforms will be useful and accurate. If you see a slower response with more blunt waves, then your transducer is "overdamped" or the scale set on the monitor is too high. Obviously then, if there's a big bounce at the end when you let go of your fast-flush, the transducer is "underdamped"- the scale is set too low. (Or there may be a small thrombus forming at the tip of your catheter, but you're unlikely to be fixing that on your own.)

Zeroing is the act of calibrating the transducer to the atmospheric pressure. It's the quality control measure that allows you to feel justified in believing the numbers on the monitor. You want to ensure that the transducer is reading the pressure accurately so you remove the effect of the atmosphere from the equation when you zero. Weather is about the only thing that alters the atmospheric pressure in your patient's room. Repositioning the patient, raising or lowering their head, raising or lowering the bed - nope. But those things do change the phlebostatic axis - the position of the right atrium of the heart - our reference point for leveling. So make sure you adjust the level of the transducer accordingly; you'll only need to zero once a shift unless the weather changes!

Specializes in cardiology, alternative medicine.

Thank you so much for this useful information. If you don't mind, I just have one more question: Should I do the square wave test in conjunction with zeroing? Does one interfere with the other? Which one should be done first? I undrstand how often the zeroing should be done; does that apply to the square wave test also?

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

You can't do them both at the same time; your transducer will be closed to the patient while you're zeroing so the square wave won't be possible. I always zero first and then immediately, while I'm there already, do my square wave. Saves steps. Also that way, if the atmospheric pressure HAS changed since the last zeroing, the square wave info will be more accurate. As for how often to do the square wave, I'll repeat it if there's a dampening to the waveform - the peaks aren't as sharp, I can't see the dichrotic notch any more, the patient's pressure has sagged for no obvious reason - and also if the reverse is true. Always troubleshoot your equipment before assuming that there's a problem with your patient!

Specializes in cardiology, alternative medicine.

Thank you!!~

Great info in this post here! The previous mention of the dichrotic notch brought back some memories from a teaching session I was given hastily one day during my preceptorship regarding different "peaks" in waveforms. I can't, for the life of me, remember anything besides the mention of three different letters... (maybe, ironically, 'C', 'V', and 'P'??), and how they correlated with ..... ventilated patients insp and exp? This particular nurse had some little diddy on how to remember the letters and what they meant was happening.... Anybody have any suggestions/more info into what this could have been? (I apologize for the vagueness)....

Specializes in Thoracic Cardiovasc ICU Med-Surg.

So imagine I have a Pt here in Fla with an art line. When I assess this Pt, I 'zero' the line by reciting the little jargon that I first learned 25yrs ago: OFF to the patient. (I turn the stopcock towards the Pt). OPEN to air. (I take the cap off the stopcock.) ZERO the line. (I push the zero button on the monitor.) SQUARE the wave. (I pull the ponytail and make sure there is a vertical up and a vertical down on the waveform.)

Just wanted to say thanks for this very awesome way to remember how to zero the art line. We have Alines in our Thoracic/Cardiac IMU, and I dont work there often enough to remember how to do this. Fortunately, our techs are awesome, and they give me a quick refresher beginning each shift I am back there.

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