The Effect of Lateral Body Positions Upon Pulmonary Artery and Pulmonary Wedge Pressures in Critically Ill Patients

<p>The effect of lateral body positions on pulmonary artery pressures and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was studied in a clinical comparative study using eight critically ill patients. Pulmonary artery pressures (systolic, diastolic, and mean) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure measurements were taken with the patients in three different positions, i.e., supine flat, right lateral, left lateral. Comparison was made between the control data (pressure measurements in the supine flat position) and the pressure measurements in each lateral body position. Mean pressures were lower in the lateral body positions than those in the supine flat position, ranging from 0.1 mm Hg to 3.3 mm Hg lower. F-ratios for all pressure differences in relation to position were not significant at the 0.05 level. It was concluded that for the eight critically ill patients in the study, taking the pulmonary artery pressures and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure measurements in the lateral body positions, utilizing the external reference points as described, resulted in insignificant differences in pressure measurements. No generalization of the findings can be made to other critically ill patients.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Year

1979

Author dc:creator

• Millard, Sharon Greer

Contributors dc:contributor

• Evelyn L. Elwell
• Lavaun W. Sutton
• Burton A. Briggs

• Critical Care Nursing
• Blood Pressure; Critical Care

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/1327

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-2108