Which of the following can cause an elevated right arterial pressure?

a. Cardiac tamponade
b. Third-degree heart block
c. Decreased ventricular compliance
d. Left ventricular failure

ANS: A
BOX 11-3 Causes of Abnormal Right Atrial and Pulmonary Artery Occlusion Pressure (PAOP) Values and Patterns
Abnormal Values Abnormal Patterns
Elevated Right Atrial Pressure (RAP)
Volume overload
Right ventricular (RV) failure
Tricuspid stenosis or regurgitation
Cardiac tamponade
Constrictive pericarditis
Chronic left ventricular (LV) failure
Elevated Pulmonary Artery Occlusion Pressure (PAOP)
Volume overload
Left ventricle failure
Mitral stenosis or regurgitation
Cardiac tamponade
Constrictive pericarditis
High PEEP
Low RAP or PAOP
Hypovolemia Large a Waves
Tricuspid/mitral stenosis
Decreased ventricular compliance
Compliance
Loss of atrioventricular synchrony
Third-degree block
Any other electrical dissociation
Absent a Waves
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial flutter
Junctional rhythms
Paced rhythms
Ventricular rhythms