A patient is suffering from severe mitral-valve stenosis. What clinical data is expected when using a balloon-tipped pulmonary artery catheter?

In the case of a patient with severe mitral-valve stenosis, one can expect particular hemodynamic alterations as measured by a balloon-tipped pulmonary artery catheter. The correct response indicates that the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) is 14 mm Hg and the cardiac output (C.O.) is 4 L/min.

In severe mitral-valve stenosis, blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle is impeded due to the narrowing of the mitral valve opening. This results in increased pressure in the left atrium, which subsequently causes a rise in downstream pressures in the pulmonary circulation. The PCWP reflects the pressure in the left atrium, and in cases of significant mitral stenosis, this pressure is typically elevated, thus a value of 14 mm Hg aligns with expected findings.

Additionally, cardiac output tends to decrease in mitral stenosis because of the impaired flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, which may lead to reduced stroke volume and consequently lower overall cardiac output. A value of around 4 L/min suggests reduced circulatory output, fitting with the physiological impacts of severe mitral stenosis.

The other choices present physiological data that wouldn't appropriately reflect the expected