An Evaluation of Wedge Pressures in Dogs under Conditions of Normal and Elevated Pulmonary Vascular Pressures

Abstract

Fifty-six combined right and left heart catheterizations in normal dogs and dogs with experimental mitral stenosis failed to show a significant positive correlation between pulmonary artery wedge pressure and pulmonary vein pressure when the latter was below approximately 17 mm. Hg. Evidence is presented which suggests that the wedged catheter outlets are totally occluded in many instances in the dog. Pulmonary vein wedge pressure reflected a pressure nearer the pulmonary artery pressure than the expected capillary pressure. One instance of mitral regurgitation revealed large pulmonary vein and pulmonary artery wedge pulse pressures.