Measurement Methods of Hemodynamics

An understanding of cardiac hemodynamics is fundamental to caring for patients with a broad range of cardiac and non-cardiac conditions including shock, pericardial disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, and infection. The cardiac catheterization laboratory is the traditional venue for measuring and defining a patient’s hemodynamics. In this course, we will describe the methods and pitfalls of hemodynamic assessment.

You will learn:

• To correctly identify the basic hemodynamic waves and the cardiac physiology which produce specific hemodynamics waves
• To correctly identify the cardiac equipment needed to make specific hemodynamic measurements
• To describe the indications for right-heart catheterization

Author(s): Michael Ragosta III, MD and Lawrence W Gimple, MD

Estimated time to complete: 10 minutes

Credit hours: .25

Method and Medium: Learners participate in the interactive learning modules by correctly answering multiple choice questions dispersed throughout. Learners will be prompted to try again if a question is answered incorrectly.