A critically ill patient is admitted for the treatment of pneumonia and is receiving mechanical ventilation. The central venous pressure (CVP) is 15, and the pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) is 55/35

Question

What evaluation can the nurse make from this data? 1. Both pressures are low because the patient has increased fluid volume and may be septic from the pneumonia.
2. The CVP is low because the patient has increased fluid volume, and the high PAP indicates increased pressure in the lungs.
3. Both pressures are high, indicating that the patient has increased pressure in the lungs and a high fluid volume.
4. The CVP is high, indicating increased fluid volume, and the low PAP indicates impending heart failure.

Answer 1

3
Rationale 1: Both the CVP and the PAP are extremely high.
Rationale 2: Both the CVP and the PAP are extremely high.
Rationale 3: Both the CVP and the PAP are extremely high. The high PAP indicates pressure in the lungs and is partially caused by mechanical ventilation as well as the pneumonia. The high CVP indicates increased fluid volume. The nurse would evaluate for signs of heart failure and renal failure in this critically ill patient.
Rationale 4: Both the CVP and the PAP are extremely high.