Which parameter is elevated in right-sided heart failure?

Specialties CCU

Published

A. CVP

B. Left-ventricular end-diastolic pressure

C. PAWP

D. Cardiac output

I'm trying to brush up on my Cardiac knowledge because it is a weakness of mine. I got this question on a self test wrong and just want to see if anyone else said the same thing I did. I'll post the correct answer later.

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I didn't look it up, so off the top of my head, I believe it is CVP. All the other responses are left sided heart readings. And right sided failure would increase pressure on the right side of the heart thus increasing CVP. I think? Is this a trick question?

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Yes CVP reflects right atrial/ventricular filling pressure, which goes up in RV failure.

Wedge and LVEDP are left heart filling pressures.

CO goes down in "typical" HF (CHF).

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Specializes in Critical Care.
A. CVP

B. Left-ventricular end-diastolic pressure

C. PAWP

D. Cardiac output

I'm trying to brush up on my Cardiac knowledge because it is a weakness of mine. I got this question on a self test wrong and just want to see if anyone else said the same thing I did. I'll post the correct answer later.

I don't know if you're interested, but http://www.pacep.org does some hemodynamic review, registration is still free I believe and it may focus on areas you want to review. Just a thought.

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Thank you highlandlass1592 for that website.

You guys were all right of course it was CVP and the fact I didn't know that tells me I have a lot of studying to do.

Thanks

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Specializes in Critical Care.

You know, AACN has some great references that goes over hemodynamics, if you're interested in hard copies. Another reference I love and use to mentor/teach from is Kathy White's Fast Facts for Adult Critical Care. She's got an awesome hemodynamic section that goes over just the concepts you're looking into. Her binder is pocket size and goes over plenty of other things...I've been using it for about 10 years now....keep getting the updates. :-) Anyway, I feel it's pretty reasonably priced..check it out and good luck to you as you study.

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Specializes in CVICU.

Pacep.org is an awesome site, definately gives you an excellent overview on hemodynamics. However, one thing I noticed is that they teach the normal hemodyamic pressures and consider any deviations of those normals to be diagnostic. Most of the patients that I've seen with a PA cath (open hearts) do not have normal pressures and generally are much higher accross the board. Of course I realize the obvious, their heart is sick and pressures may not be normal, but it seems like I rarely see anyone that has normal CVP and PA pressures. Anyone with more experience have anything to add to that? I guess my point is the number alone seems to be of little value unless your watching a trend.

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cvp measures the pressures of the right side of the heart. co would come down if the pt is overloaded because the pumping of the heart would be weakend

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Specializes in CTICU.

That depends how good their heart is - with a bad heart, you need them fluid loaded to get adequate CO.

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