Final answer:
Pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure monitoring are used to assess left ventricular end-diastolic pressure after mitral valve replacement. This reflects the role of the mitral valve in the left atrium-to-left ventricle blood flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
The monitoring of pulmonary artery pressure together with pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) using a pulmonary artery catheter after a mitral valve replacement helps to assess left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). The PCWP serves as an indirect measure of LVEDP because the catheter is wedged in a branch of the pulmonary artery, blocking all forward flow, so the pressure measured reflects the pressure in the left atrium and, by inference, the left ventricle at end-diastole. This is important for patients who have had mitral valve surgery because the mitral valve plays a crucial role in controlling the flow of blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
Therefore, the correct answer to the posted question is B) left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. The other options, such as right ventricular pressure, acid-base balance, and coronary artery stability, are not directly assessed with a PCWP. The action by the nurse to monitor pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure with a pulmonary artery catheter will assess A) right ventricular pressure and B) left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Pulmonary artery pressure reflects the pressure in the right ventricle, while pulmonary capillary wedge pressure reflects the pressure in the left ventricle at the end of diastole.