A central venous pressure catheter is used to measure pressures in which areas?

• A. Right atrium or superior vena cava
• B. Pulmonary artery
• C. Left ventricle or aorta
• D. Arterial line

Answer: (A)

Central venous pressure reflects the filling pressure of the right heart, so the catheter is placed in a central vein with the tip near the right atrium. This position lets CVP represent pressures in the right atrium and the surrounding venous system (often the lower superior vena cava). It does not measure pressures in the pulmonary artery, left ventricle, or aorta. Those require other tools: a pulmonary artery catheter can access the right heart, pulmonary artery, and estimate left-sided pressures by wedge, while an arterial line directly measures systemic arterial pressure in the arterial system.