Zero reference level for right heart catheterisation

What is it about?

Right heart catheterization is the gold standard for measurement of pulmonary arterial pressures, pulmonary arterial wedge pressure, right atrial pressure etc. However, the reading very much depends on the zero level that was chosen. The choice of the zero level can decide if a patient meets criteria for pulmonary hypertension, percapillary pulmonary hypertension, or postcapillary pulmonary hypertension. It would be very much appreciated if there was a generally accepted standard for the zero level. This article makes a suggestion for a general rule how to find the adequate zero level, independent of the body posture.

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