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Pressure Tracings at different catheter positions



- in jugual or subclavian vein, typical CVP pattern is observed.
- as catheter is advanced thru tricuspid valve, into Rt ventricle, one will see a high amplitude, smooth regular wave form representing the
     ventricular contraction; Note: there is not dicrotic notch and that at its lowest, the wave for is near 0;
- as catheter is advanced thru the pulmonary valve: note:
     - Dicrotic Wave Pattern - representing the pulmonic valve closure after the peak of systole;
     - baseline no longer comes close to zero, because pulmonary valve serves to maintain diastolic pressure in the pulmonary arterial tree;
 - as catheter is advanced further into the wedge position:
     - one sees low amplitude, irregular, sawtooth wave form representing wedge tracing; again, a, c, and v waves can be discerned on close 
          inspection;
     - Mean pressure in this position is the one which best approximates LA mean pressure