Final answer:
When the PA-C moves from the RA into the RV, pressure increases due to the higher pressures needed to pump blood into the pulmonary artery. The pressures are measures for assessing cardiac function and diagnosing conditions like pulmonary hypertension or heart failure.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the Pulmonary Artery Catheter (PA-C) advances from the Right Atrium (RA) into the Right Ventricle (RV), there is an increase in pressure. As the catheter moves through the heart, it encounters different pressures in various chambers. When the catheter is in the RA, the pressure is relatively low. Once the catheter enters the RV, the pressure increases significantly due to the muscular walls of the ventricle that are responsible for pumping blood into the pulmonary artery.
The pressure readings are critical for diagnosing and managing various cardiac conditions. Specifically, in the RV, systolic pressure readings typically range between 15-30 mm Hg, and diastolic pressure readings are between 3-8 mm Hg. If a practitioner observes a pressure greater than these normal ranges while the catheter is in the RV, it may indicate an underlying pathological condition such as pulmonary hypertension or heart failure.