Final answer:
In invasive procedures such as using a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure balloon, precise control of exerted force is critical to avoid lung tissue damage. It is a procedure done by health professionals typically in surgeries or intensive care. Understanding gauge pressures and how they affect lung function is crucial in these settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
When using a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure balloon, it is important to remember that this technique involves invasive pressure measurements that are generally only performed during surgery or in an intensive care setting. Healthcare professionals use catheters to take these measurements, which can indicate cardiovascular function and guide management in critically ill patients. The force exerted on the balloon needs to be carefully controlled to avoid trauma to the lung tissue or dislodgment of the catheter.
Understanding the pressures within the various chambers of the heart, such as the gauge pressure, which is the extra pressure over atmospheric pressure, is vital. For example, the gauge pressure in the liquid keeping the lungs attached to the chest wall can vary from -4 to -8 mm Hg. Deviations from these pressures can have significant consequences, such as lung collapse if air enters the chest cavity, where negative pressure needs to be reestablished.
The force required to create a gauge pressure can be calculated using pressure and area, suggested by the example of forcing air into an unconscious person's lungs through a balloon with a known area. However, in a clinical context, the manipulation of pressures is far more precise and critical.