arterial line damping

  • underdamping
    • overestimates systolic but underestimates diastolic
    • wide pulse pressure
    • MAP same
    • narrow systolic peak, oscillations during diastolic
    • can be caused by artifact or tachyarrythmia
  • overdamping
    • underestimates systolic and overestimates diastolic
    • narrow pulse pressure
    • normal MAP
    • waveform loses landmarks, becomes smooth, no dicrotic notch
    • can be caused by clots, kinks, air
  • use square waveform test
    • underdamping: > 2 oscillations
    • overdamping: 0 to 1 oscillation