Question

To obtain reliable arterial blood pressure monitoring, What steps must be followed for transducer setup?

1) CaLiBrate with cuffed blood pressure
2) Level at the appropriate patient position
3) Utilize dextrose flush solution
4) Zero to atmospheric pressure

Answer 1

To obtain reliable arterial blood pressure monitoring, zero the transducer to atmospheric pressure and level it at the phlebostatic axis for accurate readings.

Step-by-step explanation:

To obtain reliable arterial blood pressure monitoring, specific steps for transducer setup are critical. Initially, the transducer should be zeroed to atmospheric pressure, ensuring that it is set to recognize the patient's actual arterial pressure without any added baseline. Secondly, it is essential to level the transducer at the phlebostatic axis, which corresponds to the height of the heart when the patient is lying down, to ensure accuracy of the readings.

While the option of utilizing a dextrose flush solution is not a standard procedure for arterial line setups and calibration with a cuffed blood pressure is not directly related to transducer setup, these may be steps associated with overall patient monitoring but not specific to the transducer setup itself.