[Repercussion on the hemodynamic measurements across a Swan-Ganz catheter with the postural changes]

Usually hemodynamic measures are done with the patient in dorsal decubitus and the bedside at 0 degrees. Our aim has been to evaluate the influence that postural changes has in the hemodynamic measures which were carried out with a pulmonary artery catheter, so as called Swan-Ganz.

It's a prospective study. The same patient is control group and study group. There were done tree consecutive measures in each patient. Firstly in dorsal decubitus, then right lateral decubitus and finally in left lateral decubitus. Before doing the measures after change of posture a thirty minutes period was left in order to stabilise the hemodynamical flow. The items of study were, a part of demographic ones, cardiac index, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, pulmonary artery diastolic pressure, pulmonary artery mean pressure, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, right atrial pressure, systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure, mean arterial pressure and heart rate. 28 patients were included in the study.

The age average was 62.5 years (27.05-67.05); a 78.6% were male. Who had a NEMS average of 42.4 (39.9-44.9). No difference was found between hemodynamic measures in the different postures.

Postural changes in stable patients have no influence in pressures and other hemodynamic variables measures.