The Relationship between Pulmonary Artery Wedge Pressure and Left Atrial Pressure in Man

Abstract

In 17 patients with atrial septal defect, in 12 patients with mitral stenosis and in four patients with unilateral lung tumor but without evidence of mitral valve disease, a similarity in pressure pulse contours in the left atrium and pulmonary artery wedge position was obtained at cardiac catheterization. It is concluded that the pulmonary artery wedge pressure pulse is a reasonably accurate reflection both in magnitude and in contour of the left atrial pressure pulse in man during normal respiration and also during assisted respiration at operation.