The effect of Swan-Ganz catheter height on the wedge pressure-left atrial pressure relationships in edema during positive-pressure ventilation.

We have studied the effect of the ventrical height of the pulmonary wedge catheter in the lung on the pulmonary wedge pressure-left atrial relationship during positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation in oleic acid-induced pulmonary edema. Pulmonary wedge catheters were placed above and below the left atrium in normal dogs and in dogs with oleic acid-induced edema. Wedge pressure and left atrial pressure were measured simultaneously during positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation (range, 0 to 30 cm H2O positive end-expiratory pressure). Pulmonary wedge catheters below the left atrium correctly recorded left atrial pressure and change in left atrial pressure at all positive end-expiratory pressures studied. Pulmonary wedge catheters above the atrium consistently recorded pressures higher than the normal left atrial pressure. They did not correctly respond to increases in left atrial pressure until it was increased to a value higher than the initial upper pulmonary wedge pressure. Pulmonary arterial catheters, when properly placed, should be reliable indicators of left atrial pressure during positive-pressure ventilation in normal and edematous lungs.