When is monitoring through an arterial line indicated?

Indications for placement of arterial lines include: (1) continuous beat-to-beat monitoring of blood pressure in hemodynamically unstable patients, (2) frequent sampling of blood for laboratory analysis, and (3) timing of intra-aortic balloon pump with the cardiac cycle.

What information can be gained from the arterial waveform?

Arterial waveforms may provide a deeper insight into overall haemodynamic status. An understanding of the principles of ventricular-vascular coupling is essential. Vasodilatation usually causes lower systolic/diastolic pressures associated with a wide pulse pressure (PP) and delayed dicrotic notch.

What is the nurse’s responsibility for an arterial line?

Along with understanding waveforms on the monitor, the nurse is responsible for zeroing (calibrating) the arterial line. Zeroing the system tells the transducer to “ignore” the pressure from the atmosphere.

Why do we zero the arterial line?

Why Do You Zero An Arterial or CVP Line? Zeroing any kind of line that is monitoring pressure helps to give you the most accurate reading possible. You are closing off the line to the patient (so that no air goes inside of them while zeroing) and then opening the line up to air.

What does a dampened arterial waveform indicate?

A waveform that is under-damped will appear saltatory in nature causing variations in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure values. Typically, the systolic blood pressure will be reported higher than it actually is, and the diastolic blood pressure will be reported lower than it truly is.

What is a normal arterial line pressure?

Normal Ranges: Systolic Blood Pressure: 90 – 120 mm Hg. Diastolic Blood Pressure: 50 – 80 mm Hg. Mean Arterial Pressure: 70 – 100 mm Hg.

What are five indications for arterial lines?

Indications for arterial cannulation include but are not limited to:

  • Continuous blood pressure monitoring.
  • Continuous mean arterial pressure monitoring.
  • Frequent arterial blood gas specimens.
  • Frequent blood sampling for diagnostic testing.

Why is a 300 mmHg a pressure bag?

Inflate the pressure bag or device to 300 mm Hg. Rationale: Inflating the pressure bag to 300 mm Hg allows 3 ml/hr of flush solution to be delivered through the catheter, thus maintaining catheter patency and minimizing clot formation.

Why are pressure bags used in arterial lines?

To prevent the blood from backing up, the infusion is kept under pressure. You may notice green or blue pressure boxes or bags hanging near the bedside. These boxes are used to compress the infusion fluid to maintain the infusion pressure.

What is arterial waveform analysis?

ARTERIAL WAVEFORM ANALYSIS. Changes in intravascular pressure are transmitted through rigid, fluid-filled tubing that propagates the pressure wave to a transducer. This transducer converts the pressure wave from a mechanical process (displacement of fluid) into an electrical signal that is, in turn, amplified, processed,…

Why is the waveform on the monitor different for each artery?

As a result of different pressures through arteries of varying circumference and distance from the heart, the visual representation of the waveform on the monitor will be different based on which artery the catheter has been placed (see Figure 89–1 ).

What is the purpose of arterial monitoring?

Arterial monitoring equipment permits waveform evaluation and allows the nurse to make clinical decisions about changes in the patient’s therapy. (See Understanding the arterial waveform, page 30.) Normal arterial blood pressure produces a characteristic waveform, representing ventricular systole and diastole.

What information can be derived from the arterial pressure waveform?

In short, the information derived from the arterial pressure waveform is: The arterial pressure wave (which is what you see there) is a pressure wave; it travels much faster than the actual blood which is ejected.