Question

After pulmonary artery catheter insertion, the nurse assesses a pulmonary artery pressure of 45/25 mm Hg, a pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) of 20 mm Hg, a cardiac output of 2.6 L/min and a cardiac index of 1.9 L/min/m2. Which physician order is of the highest priority?

Answer 1

The physician order of highest priority would be to assess and monitor the mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the patient.

Step-by-step explanation:

From the given information, the physician order of highest priority would be to assess and monitor the mean arterial pressure (MAP) of the patient. The MAP is an important indicator of the overall perfusion and oxygenation of body tissues. It is calculated using the formula:

MAP = diastolic pressure + 1/3 pulse pressure. In this case, the diastolic pressure is 25 mm Hg and the pulse pressure can be calculated as (45-25) = 20 mm Hg.

Therefore, the MAP would be 25 + (1/3 * 20) = 31.7 or approximately 32 mm Hg. Monitoring the patient's MAP is crucial to ensure adequate blood flow to the organs and tissues.