What does the wedge pressure of a pulmonary catheter measure?

Prepare for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) Board Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question offers hints and explanations. Ace your board exam!

The wedge pressure measured by a pulmonary catheter refers to the left atrial pressure. This measurement is obtained by inflating a balloon at the catheter tip, occluding a pulmonary artery branch, and allowing it to equilibrate with the blood pressure in the left atrium.

A characteristic of this measurement is its relevance to assessing left ventricular function and diagnosing conditions like heart failure. When there is elevated wedge pressure, it indicates a back pressure resulting from increased left atrial pressure, commonly due to issues such as fluid overload or diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle.

While left end-diastolic pressure and left atrial pressure are closely related, the direct measurement obtained through the pulmonary catheter is specifically indicative of left atrial pressure indirectly, as it serves as a reflection of what the left atrium is experiencing at that moment.

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