Pulmonary Capillary Wedge Pressure

Key points

• PCWP measured with balloon-tipped Swan-Ganz catheter in the pulmonary artery.
• Reflects left atrial pressure (normally 6–12 mmHg).
• Main use: distinguish cardiogenic pulmonary oedema (heart failure) from ARDS.
• Largely replaced by non-invasive techniques in modern ITU.

Decision points in this pathway

• Pulmonary oedema: raised PCWP?

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