What should a therapist recommend if the inflection points indicate a pulmonary artery catheter is improperly placed?

When a therapist identifies that the inflection points suggest the pulmonary artery catheter is improperly placed, the appropriate course of action is to inflate the balloon and advance the catheter. This process helps to reposition the catheter within the appropriate chamber of the heart or pulmonary artery.

Inflating the balloon creates a "sail" effect that allows the catheter to float into the right pulmonary artery when proper placement is not achieved. Often, catheters can become lodged in the right ventricle or other vessels, and advancing the catheter can facilitate the correct positioning needed to obtain accurate hemodynamic measurements.

This action is critical for accurate monitoring because an incorrectly placed catheter can lead to misleading pressure readings, which could impact patient management. If a catheter remains improperly positioned even after attempts to reposition, other options such as removing and reinserting it would be considered, but the initial step should focus on adjusting the existing catheter to confirm proper placement.