Certified Clinical Transplant Nurse (CCTN) Practice Exam 2026 – Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Assessing right-sided preload in clinical practice is typically done through the measurement of Central Venous Pressure (CVP). CVP reflects the pressure in the right atrium and serves as an indirect indicator of the volume status and preload of the right side of the heart. It provides insight into venous return and helps clinicians assess the fluid status of patients, particularly in scenarios such as heart failure or during fluid resuscitation.

Central venous pressure is a useful measure because it can indicate whether the right heart is filling properly. Elevated CVP can suggest fluid overload or right heart dysfunction, while a lower-than-normal CVP might indicate hypovolemia.

In contrast, wedge pressure is related to left-sided heart pressures and is measured using a catheter that is occluded in a pulmonary artery branch, thus not directly assessing the right heart preload. Left atrial pressure and systemic vascular resistance also pertain to the left side of the heart and systemic circulation, respectively, failing to provide the specific insight relevant to right-sided preload assessment.