Fluid replacement monitoring: effect of dextran overload, norepinephrine drip, and positive pressure ventilation on systemic arterial, right atrial pulmonary wedge, and left atrial pressures in dogs.

The effects of dextran overload, norepinephrine drip and positive pressure ventilation upon right atrial, pulmonary wedge, left atrial and systemic arterial pressures were studied in 15 dogs. Rapid intravenous infusion of Dextran 70 invariably produced a marked and statistically significant (p < .001) rise in right atrial, pulmonary wedge and left atrial pressures. The rise in left atrial pressure invariably exceeded the rise in right atrial pressure, and the difference in maximum pressures averaged 10.8 mm Hg (p < .001). Thus acute fluid overload and pulmonary edema can be produced by rapid infusion of colloid solution in the absence of a marked rise in right atrial pressure, a point of considerable clinical importance. The rapid infusion of dextran produced a rise in systemic arterial blood pressure in all dogs so studied, though this rise was mild in some animals. This finding may explain in part the hypertension exhibited by patients in the recovery room who may have been overtransfused. A norepinephrine drip usually produced an increase in right atrial, wedge, left atrial and systemic arterial blood pressure (p < .01). When there was a significant rise in right atrial pressure and left atrial pressure, the maximum increase in left atrial pressure was always greater than the maximum increase in right atrial pressure (p < .005). This finding again emphasizes the fact that blood transfusion requirements cannot always be accurately assessed on the basis of right and left atrial pressure measurements when a vasopressor agent is being administered. Positive pressure ventilation increased both right and left atrial pressures, as expected. It was again confirmed that pulmonary wedge pressure, as measured with the Swan-Ganz catheter, is approximately equal to left atrial pressure over a wide range of induced variations. The Swan-Ganz catheter, introduced at the bedside in the intensive care unit when necessary, can provide highly useful information regarding left atrial pressure and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.