Swan-Ganz catheter is introduced to measure the?

AIIMS CRE 2025

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: AIIMS CRE 2025

Explanation

A Swan-Ganz catheter, also known as a pulmonary artery (PA) catheter, is a specialized device for hemodynamic monitoring in critically ill patients.
The proximal port of the catheter is designed to sit in the right atrium.
This position allows for the direct measurement of right atrial pressure, which is known as the Central Venous Pressure (CVP).
CVP is a key indicator of a patient's fluid volume status and right ventricular preload (the stretch on the ventricular muscle at the end of diastole).

Option A: Intraocular pressure is the fluid pressure inside the eye.
Option B: Intracranial pressure is the pressure inside the skull and brain tissue.
Option C: This option usually refers to systemic arterial blood pressure, which is the force exerted on the walls of arteries.

Visual 1: Diagram: A detailed illustration showing the path of a Swan-Ganz catheter from the insertion site (e.g., internal jugular vein), through the right atrium, right ventricle, and into the pulmonary artery. Each lumen (proximal, distal, balloon inflation) should be labeled with its corresponding function and typical pressure waveform.
Visual 2: Flowchart: A decision tree showing how different readings from a Swan-Ganz catheter (e.g., high CVP, low PCWP) guide clinical interventions like administering diuretics or fluids.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Function of a Swan-Ganz (Pulmonary Artery) Catheter as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Monitoring CVP is crucial for guiding fluid resuscitation in patients with shock, sepsis, or major hemorrhage. It helps nurses and physicians determine if a patient needs more fluid or is in fluid overload.
Accurate CVP measurement requires correct leveling of the pressure transducer to the phlebostatic axis (fourth intercostal space, mid-axillary line) to avoid falsely high or low readings.
What if? If a patient's CVP suddenly drops from 8 mmHg to 2 mmHg after receiving a diuretic, the nurse should assess for signs of hypovolemia (like tachycardia and hypotension) and notify the provider, as the diuretic may have been too effective.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key term in the question: 'Swan-Ganz catheter'.
Recall the primary purpose of this device. It is a specialized tool for advanced hemodynamic monitoring in intensive care.
Consider the anatomical placement of the catheter: it travels through the right side of the heart into the pulmonary artery.
Evaluate the options based on this knowledge. The catheter's proximal port resides in the right atrium, making it suitable for measuring central venous pressure.
Eliminate the other options by associating them with their correct measurement tools: tonometer for eye pressure, ICP monitor for brain pressure, and sphygmomanometer/arterial line for systemic blood pressure.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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