Phlebostatic axis

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Ideally, the transducer should be placed at the level of the tip of the catheter. To ensure this placement, the stopcock closest to the transducer, or air-reference stopcock, is placed level with the phlebostatic axis, a common physical reference point. The phlebostatic axis is located at the fourth intercostal space and 1/2 the anterior-posterior (AP) diameter of the chest. This approximates the location of the right atrium. The nurse should ensure that, any time a reading is taken, the transducer remains at the level of the phlebostatic axis.

[edit] External links

• Kee L, Simonson J, Stotts N, Skov P, Schiller N (1993). "Echocardiographic determination of valid zero reference levels in supine and lateral positions". Am. J. Crit. Care 2 (1): 72–80. PMID 8353583. 

• Diagram (search for text "Figure 8")
• "Common Pitfalls in the Use of the Pulmonary Artery Catheter"