Abstract
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.
LLU Discipline
Nursing
Department
Nursing
School
Graduate School
First Advisor
Evelyn L. Elwell
Second Advisor
Lavaun W. Sutton
Third Advisor
Burton A. Briggs
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Degree Level
M.S.
Year Degree Awarded
1979
Date (Title Page)
5-1979
Language
English
Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings
Blood Pressure; Critical Care
Type
Thesis
Page Count
xii; 153
Digital Format
Digital Publisher
Loma Linda University Libraries
Copyright
Author
Usage 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.
Recommended Citation
Millard, Sharon Greer, "The Effect of Lateral Body Positions Upon Pulmonary Artery and Pulmonary Wedge Pressures in Critically Ill Patients" (1979). Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects. 1327.
https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/1327
Collection
Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Collection Website
http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/
Repository
Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives