General Cardiology Part 3
Question 21/36
What causes an accentuated V wave in the left atrial pressure or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure tracing?
Question 21/36
What causes an accentuated V wave in the left atrial pressure or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure tracing?
The V wave in the left atrial pressure (LAP) or pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) tracing represents left atrial filling against a closed mitral valve. If severe mitral valve regurgitation is present, the V wave will be significantly accentuated. This can be helpful if a patient with an acute inferior MI presents with pulmonary edema and shock to diagnose acute severe mitral regurgitation.