Critical care: pulmonary artery wedge pressure: practice question

A Anaesthesia question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Anaesthesia · Critical care: pulmonary artery wedge pressure

Sample item

A patient with bilateral infiltrates and severe hypoxaemia has a pulmonary artery wedge pressure of 10 mmHg. What does this suggest?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema such as ARDS

The wedge pressure estimates left atrial pressure, normally 6 to 12 mmHg. Pulmonary oedema with a low or normal wedge pressure indicates a permeability (non-cardiogenic) mechanism such as ARDS, while cardiogenic oedema has a pressure above about 18 mmHg. Mitral stenosis also raises it.

Option by option

  • A. Mitral stenosis

    Mitral stenosis raises the wedge pressure.

  • B. Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema such as ARDS (correct)

    Correct. A normal wedge pressure with oedema points to ARDS.

  • C. Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema from left heart failure

    Cardiogenic oedema produces a raised wedge pressure.

  • D. Cardiac tamponade

    Tamponade equalises raised diastolic pressures.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is B, Non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema such as ARDS. The wedge pressure estimates left atrial pressure, normally 6 to 12 mmHg.

Why is "Mitral stenosis" not the answer?

Mitral stenosis raises the wedge pressure.

Why is "Cardiogenic pulmonary oedema from left heart failure" not the answer?

Cardiogenic oedema produces a raised wedge pressure.

Why is "Cardiac tamponade" not the answer?

Tamponade equalises raised diastolic pressures.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Critical care: pulmonary artery wedge pressure in Anaesthesia. Pulmonary oedema with a low or normal wedge pressure indicates a permeability (non-cardiogenic) mechanism such as ARDS, while cardiogenic oedema has a pressure above about 18 mmHg. Mitral stenosis also raises it.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Critical care: pulmonary artery wedge pressure?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.