Pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) testing

Pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) testing equipment (A,B) and procedure (C–E). (A) A 14-gauge needle (center) is used for sterile catheter (coiled tubing) introduction. (B) The hub end of the catheter is connected to a three-way stopcock, which is attached to a transducer that converts the pressure signal into an electrical signal that is viewed on a monitor. (C,D) In a sterile protocol, the catheter is inserted into the jugular vein and advanced until it reaches the right side of the heart and then the pulmonary artery. (E) The fluid tubing from the stopcock transmits the pressure wave to the transducer, which is affixed to the vertical metal post in this photograph. The transducer's height is adjusted so that it is at the level of the pulmonary artery.

(A,B)