Can I measure proximal pressure via a transducer attached to the side-arm of the introducer in the femoral artery?
Femoral artery pressure can be measured through the side-arm of the introducer sheath, using a third pressure transducer (or by connecting the regular transducer to the sheath). First, compare pressure in the femoral artery with pressure in the ostium, as measured through the guiding catheter. If these are shown to be equal, femoral pressure can be used in place of coronary proximal pressure during i.c. drug administration (the systolic femoral pressure is usually higher and the diastolic femoral pressure lower than in the descending aorta – but in most patients the mean pressure is very similar). This compensates for the limitation of having to close off the proximal pressure measured through the guiding catheter during i.c. induced drug administration and then quickly re-open it to measure Pa during maximum hyperemia.
