Pulmonary wedge pressure

Pulmonary venous wedge pressure (PVWP) is not synonymous with the above; PVWP has been shown to correlate with pulmonary artery pressures in studies, albeit unreliably.

[5] For example, it is considered the gold standard for determining the cause of acute pulmonary edema; this is likely to be present at a PWP of >20mmHg.

It has also been used to diagnose severity of left ventricular failure and mitral stenosis,[6] given that elevated pulmonary capillary wedge pressure strongly suggests failure of left ventricular output.

[7] Traditionally, it was believed that pulmonary edema with normal PWP suggested a diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or non cardiogenic pulmonary edema (as in opiate poisoning).

[citation needed] Physiological pressure: 6–12 mm Hg.