RHC Flashcards
Formula for Fick-derived cardiac output
Fick CO = Estimated O2 consumption / [10 x A-VO2 difference]
A-V O2 difference = 1.34 x [Hb] x (SaO2 - SvO2)
At what part of the respiratory cycle should wedge be taken?
End-expiration to minimize effect of intrathoracic pressure
-want all measurements taken at FRC (functional residual capacity)- end exhalation of tidal breathing
Direct vs. indirect Fick equation
Direct Fick- measure inspired and expired O2, mixed venous from PA, arterial O2 from ABG
Indirect Fick- one or any of these are estimated
ex: oxygen consumption based on nomogram, arterial O2 from sat
If concern for intracardiac shunt- where to take oximetry measurements from?
IVC, SVC, high RA, low RA, RV, PA
But of course this only detects L to R shunt
Cutoff for step-up in oxygenation expected in
(a) L to R atrial shunt
(b) Shunt at level of RV or PA
(a) 7% or greater increase from IVC/SVC to RA indicative of L to R atrial shunt
(b) O2 increase of 5% or greater raises suspicion for shunt at level of RV or PA
What to measure during RHC to get Fick cardiac output
Technically mixed venous sat (sat from PA) and arterial sat from ABG (often use room air SpO2)
Why measure at end exhalation
At end expiration (functional residual capacity) intra and extra-thoracic pressures are equal, so minimizing the effect of intrathroacic pressure on wedge/pressures
-Can also take average of 3 values, questionable if better to take average over respiratory cycles
Typical length and size of PA catheter
110cm
5-8F, Roxana likes 7F (2.3mm) Edwards
In what circumstances would RA pressure not correctly estimate RVEDP
Some tricuspid valve disease
ex: TR
Line up CVP tracing with EKG lead
(a) a
(b) c
(c) v
(a) a (atrial contraction) with P-wave
(b) c (cusp) of TV protruding backwards into RA as RV begins to contract- correlates with end of QRS
(c) v-wave = RA filling (against tricuspid valve), just after EKG’s T-wave
What is the c stand for in ‘a/c/v’ of a CVP tracing
C for cusp of the tricuspid valve protruding backwards into the RA as the RV begins to contract
(if on A-line then is closure of mitral valve)
Change in CVP expected in AFib
Afib- no organized atrial contraction => no A-wave
Can just look like disorganized activity b/c contraction is so disorganized that it may not produce pressure waves
Line up CVP tracing with EKG lead
(a) x-descent
(b) y-descent
(a) X-descent = downward movement of RV as RV contracts. Just before T-wave on EKG (atrial relaxation)
(b) Y-descent = opening of tricuspid valve right just before atria contracts, time of passive RV filling, occurs just before p-wave (early ventricular filling)
What part of the CVP tracing can tell you about tricuspid competence?
(a) CVP tracing in TR
V-wave: as blood fills the RA it hits the TV and produces this back-pressure wave
(a) Expect huge V-wave in TR, representing blood flowing back out of the contracting RV
In severe TR could expect V-wave to reach RVSP
What happens to y-descent in tamponade?
Y-descent = tricuspid valve opening to allow passive RV filling (just before atrial contraction)
Loss of y-descent suggests restriction to RV filling = tamponade
Explain how thermodilution estimates cardiac output
Mean decrease in temperature of blood (blood is warmer than room temp or cold injectate) inversely correlated to cardiac output
If flow is slower, takes longer time to equilibrate temperature
Thermodilution curve in low cardiac output state
Blood temperature will take a longer time to equilibrate with colder (cold or room temp) injectate, blunted initial spike because not moving as quickly
So shorter y-axis spike and longer x-axis time
Margin of error for thermodilution cardiac output measurements
Cardiac output measured by thermodilution can vary by 10% measurement to measurement without change in patient hemodynamics
Change in 15% accepted as different
Why use 10cc vs. 5cc during thermodilution measurement
5cc shown to underestimate cardiac output- smaller AUC = more error prone
Explain why want PA catheter in West Zone 3 of the lung for optimal CO measurement
Want uninhibited flow through vessel.
If in dead space (no blood flow) than there is no flow past the thermister
-So closer to zone 2/1 can underestimate cardiac output
List 3 tests that suggest appropriate PA catheter positioning in West Zone 3
- Catheter tip below level of LA on lateral Xray
- Minimal changes in PAWP with applied PEEP or changes in alveolar pressure
- PAWP < PADP
-O2 sat in wedge > O2 sat unwedged - PAWP should have recognizable a and v waves, while could be unnaturally smooth if in zones 1/2 (b/c not pulsatile)
Differentiate thermodilution abnormality seen in
(a) R to L shunt
(b) L to R shunt
Thermodilution abnormality
(a) R to L shunt: spuriously elevated cardiac output b/c cold injectate rapidly escapes to the L w/o getting measured, giving false impression of faster pulmonary blood flow
(b) L to R shunt: confuses thermistor, potential second peak in temperature as cold injectate circulates back into R heart, increased area under curve
How erratic respiration can mess up thermodilution cardiac output measurements
Erratic changes in preload => erratic CO measurements
List 2 conditions where PAWP will read higher than LVEDP
PAWP > LVEDP
-Mitral stenosis, MR
-Catheter not in zone 3 placement
-L to R shunt
-PEEP or invasive positive pressure ventilation