You are caring for a patient in cardiogenic shock who has a multilumen pulmonary artery catheter in place. What cardiac output (CO) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) would you see if the patient were unstable?
A)CO 5 L/min, PCWP low
B)CO 4 L/min, PCWP high
C)CO 3 L/min, PCWP high
D)CO 2 L/min, PCWP low

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A CO 3 L/min and PCWP that is high would indicate that the patient in cardiogenic shock is unstable. Normal cardiac output is 4 to 8 L/min. The heart fails to pump, which leads to the cardiac output falling and PCWP rising.

You Are Caring for a Patient in Cardiogenic Shock Who