What is assessed with right atrial pressures?

Right atrial pressures are primarily used to assess right ventricular function. This is because the right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body via the superior and inferior vena cavae. The pressure within the right atrium can provide insight into the performance of the right ventricle and its ability to pump blood effectively into the pulmonary artery, where it travels to the lungs for oxygenation.

Elevated right atrial pressure may indicate right ventricular failure or dysfunction, as the heart struggles to manage the blood returning to it. Therefore, assessing right atrial pressure is crucial in determining how well the right ventricle is functioning.

The other options do not directly correlate with the purpose of measuring right atrial pressures. For instance, left ventricular function is primarily assessed using left atrial pressures or pressures within the systemic circulation. Pulmonary artery pressures are assessed separately to evaluate pulmonary circulation and are not directly indicative of right ventricular function. Systemic blood pressure relates more to the left side of the heart and overall vascular resistance, not specifically to right atrial dynamics.