pulmonary artery occlusion pressure
Last reviewed 01/2018
The pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) is measured when the Swan-Ganz catheter is embedded in a pulmonary artery with the balloon inflated.
In this position there is a continuous column of fluid between the tip of the catheter and the left atrium. For this reason, the PCWP reflects the left atrial pressure and the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.