Module 4: Hemodynamic Ax Flashcards
what does hemodynamic monitoring involve?
advanced methods of assessing a patient’s CO, and allows us to gather and trend data on all its components
what does the process of hemodynamic monitoring require?
the use of specialized equipment and techniques which serve as the basis for decision-making aimed at optimizing the cardiovascular systems’ role in delivering oxygen to tissues and organs
when selecting a modality for hemodynamic monitoring, what must you consider?
the care needs of the patient as well as their underlying disease process, comorbidities, and goals of care
where is the insertion site of the cannula for invasive pressure monitoring?
varies depending on the type of assessment required; ie. to measure preload pressure of R ventricle, catheter enters venously and terminates just above right atrium. to measure afterload, catheter needs to be placed in an artery
what does invasive pressure monitoring measure?
pressures in both the arterial and venous systems
what are the components of the hemodynamic monitoring system?
1) invasive catheter and high pressure tubing connecting pt to transducer
2) transducer (receives physiological signal from the catheter and tubing and converts it into electrical energy)
3) flush system (maintains patency of the fluid-filled system and catheter, prevents blood from backing up, providing source for flushing and assessing line accuracy)
4) bedside monitor (contains the amplifier with recorder, which increases the volume of the electrical signal and displays it on an oscilloscope and on a digital scale in mm Hg)
what is the basic setup for the hemodynamic system?
1) bag of NS used as flush system. some hospitals add heparin as an anticoagulant
2) system = IV tubing, 3 way stopcock, in-line flow device attached for continuous fluid infusion and manual flush
3) pressure transducer
what is the pressure infusion cuff set to?
inflated to 300mm Hg creating a continuous infusion rate of ~3cc/hr
why must high-pressure tubing be used to connect the invasive catheter to the transducer?
to prevent dampening (flattening) of the waveform
why do some units avoid the use of heparin in the NS flush setup?
there is a concern for development of heparin-induced antibodies that can trigger HIT
if heparin is added to flush solution, what patient monitoring is required?
platelet count
when are flush solutions, lines, stopcocks, and disposable transducers changed?
q96hrs
can you use dextrose solutions as your flush solution?
no
what baseline measurements are necessary to ensure accuracy of hemodynamic pressure readings?
1) calibration of the system to atmospheric pressure, aka zeroing transducer
2) determining midaxillary axis for transducer height placement, to level the transducer accurately
how do you calibrate the equip to atmospheric pressure?
three way stopcock nearest to transducer is turned simultaneously to open the transducer to air and to close it to the pt and the flush system
what is atmospheric pressure?
760 mm Hg at sea level
what is the midaxillary line known as and what is it used for?
phlebostatic axis; physical reference point on the side of the chest that is used as a baseline for consistent transducer height placement
where is the phlebostatic axis?
4th sternal ICS where it joins the sternum and side of the chest that is one half of
the depth of the lateral chest wall; approximates the line of the atria
which transducers is the phlebostatic axis used for?
central venous pressure (CVP)
and pulmonary artery (PA) catheter transducers
what does the level of the transducer “air reference stopcock” approximate the position of?
the tip of an invasive hemodynamic monitoring
catheter within the chest
what does leveling the transducer mean?
we are aligning the transducer with the level of the left atrium
what is the purpose of leveling the transducer?
to line up the air–fluid interface with the left atrium to correct for changes in hydrostatic pressure in blood vessels above and below the level of the heart
can you eyeball the position of the transducer?
no it can lead to inaccurate placement
what happens if the transducer is placed below the midaxillary line/too low?
there is increased hydrostatic pressure in the tubing and pressure reading is falsely high
For every inch the
transducer is below the tip of the catheter, the fluid pressure in the system _______
increases the measurement by 1.87mm Hg
what happens if the transducer is placed above the atrial level/too high?
gravity and low fluid pressure give a very low pressure reading
For every inch the transducer is positioned above the catheter tip, the measurement _______
is decreased by 1.87mmHg
CVP, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), and
pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) can be reliably measured at?
HOB backrest positions from 0 (flat) to 60 degrees if the patient is lying supine
If a pt is so hemodynamically unstable or hypovolemic that raising the HOB negatively affects intravascular volume
distribution, the first priority is to?
correct the hemodynamic instability and leave the patient in a lower backrest position
if pt is in lateral position, where do you measure for leveling?
in the 30-degree and 90-degree lateral positions with the head of the bed flat
30 degree = one-half of the distance from the surface of the bed to the left sternal border
90 degree right lateral position = 4th ICS at the mid-sternum
90 degree left lateral position = e left parasternal border
(beside the sternum)
can measurements from transducer be recorded in non-supine positions?
yes
when is levelling done?
- after insertion
- at the beginning of every shift
- any time the patient’s position changes in relation to the transducer
what does a 10cm height difference between the transducer and the phlebostatic axis do to BP?
changes BP by ~7.5mm Hg
what happens if you do not level the transducer?
you will get inaccurate pressure readings and it may lead to inappropriate treatment decisions
when is zeroing done?
- after insertion
- at the beginning of every shift
- any time there is a disconnection between the transducer and the monitor
does the transducer need to be zeroed every time a pt is moved?
no
what happens if you don’t zero the transducer to atmospheric pressure?
can result in inaccurate pressure readings and may lead to inappropriate treatment decisions
order of flow of signal from patient to monitor
fluid filled compartment -> cannula -> high pressure tubing -> transducer -> cable -> monitor
what is arterial pressure monitoring?
minimally invasive method of hemodynamic monitoring that enables continuous access to arterial blood and provides a real-time display of arterial BP
what is the most common site for arterial pressure monitoring?
the radial artery due to its accessibility and collateral circulation to the hand via the ulnar artery
what are alternative sites for arterial pressure monitoring?
femoral, brachial, and dorsalis pedis arteries
what are indications for continuous arterial access and pressure monitoring?
- in critical situations where BP is/could become labile
- when NIBP monitoring is not obtainable or reliable
- when there is need for frequent arterial/venous blood sampling
what info does arterial pressure monitoring provide?
- waveform tracings of pressure for visual or calculated analysis to assess fluid responsiveness
- visual correlation between ECG waveform and CO
what are potential complications of arterial pressure monitoring?
- pain & swelling @ the insertion site
- accidental dislodgement
- thrombosis/embolization/ hematoma
- hemorrhage
- limb ischemia
- catheter-related infection including bacteremia
- iatrogenic blood loss from frequent sampling
- pseudoaneurysm
- HIT
- vasospasm
what are symptoms of vasospasm?
pain, decreased BP, severe damping of waveform, loss of arterial pulse
what is the system and safety checks for arterial pressure monitoring system?
- Inspect insertion site for redness, bleeding, drainage, and infection.
- Monitor temperature and skin colour to distal limb (circulation).
- Assess connection sites.
- Ensure pressure bag is inflated to 300 mmHg.
- Check that the flush solution bag contains the correct solution and that enough fluid is in the bag.
- Line date: The entire system (external to the patient) is changed q4 days. The catheter itself remains in place if site is not showing signs of complications.
- Level, zero, and assess square wave
- Check alarm parameters.
T or F: Alarms must be set to reflect blood pressure parameters ordered by the physician
true
can you turn off the arterial BP alarms while an arterial line is in situ?
no - dislodged arterial line can result in rapid exsanguination; low pressure alarm may be your first alert to this complication
interventions for a dislodged arterial line
- Apply pressure to the site for five minutes or until bleeding stops; follow with pressure dressing
- Assess ABCs
- Call for help if patient unstable (you may also need pressure dressing supplies brought to you while you maintain pressure on the site).
- Apply NIBP cuff and set cycle frequency based on patient condition
what can turning off alarms or incorrectly setting alarms lead to?
critical errors caused by unobserved changes in BP readings
what does the arterial line waveform represent?
pressure changes that occur in an artery during each cardiac cycle
what are the basic components seen on a bedside monitor?
- ECG waveform and HR
- arterial waveform, ABP, and calculated MAP
- SpO2 waveform and oxygen saturation
what does a rapid upstroke between the DBP and the SBP represent?
left ventricular contraction and begins when aortic valve opens
dicrotic notch
reflects a slight rebound of pressure created by the closure of the aortic valve and marks the end of systole
where is the SBP read on the waveform? what about DBP?
highest point; lowest point
what does the steep decrease in the waveform following the dicrotic notch represent?
decreasing pressure in the arterial system during diastole
potential problem: no pressure tracing or absent waveform on monitor.
what are causes? interventions?
Causes: Catheter or tubing may be kinked, stopcocks may be turned off, catheter is dislodged or against the vessel wall. Also consider loss of cardiac output, PEA/asystole.
Interventions: ax ABCs, check site and system from pt to monitor, ensure correct scale is programmed in monitor
what does a square waveform test do?
aka dynamic frequency response test, verify accuracy of BP readings
how do you conduct the square waveform test?
pull the manual fast flush valve on the transducer to release a small bolus of fluid past the sensor - will show how system responds to rapid increase in pressure