Which action would the intensive care nurse take to measure the preload of a patient with heart failure?
A) Take the patient's blood pressure.
B) Calculate the mean arterial pressure.
C) Measure the pulmonary artery pressure.
D) Calculate the systemic vascular resistance.
C) Measure the pulmonary artery pressure.
Explanation: A) The blood pressure reading does not determine preload.
B) The mean arterial pressure reading does not determine preload.
C) Preload can be measured using a pulmonary artery catheter. In this procedure, a small catheter is inserted into the jugular vein and advanced through the right atrium and right ventricle of the heart and into the pulmonary artery. The tip of the catheter is continuous with pressurized tubing and a pressure transducer so that pressure in the pulmonary artery can be measured.
D) Systemic vascular resistance is the resistance to forward flow of blood generated by the blood vessels in the systemic circulation. It is calculated by taking into account the mean arterial blood pressure, the right atrial pressure, and the cardiac output.
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