Which hemodynamic response is not typical in left heart failure?

In left heart failure, the hemodynamic responses typically involve impairment in the heart's ability to pump effectively, leading to various changes in pressures and outputs. One of the most common features is an increase in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), which reflects elevated pressures in the pulmonary circulation due to the backlog of blood when the left ventricle fails to eject blood adequately. This increased pressure can lead to pulmonary congestion and symptoms of dyspnea.

A decrease in cardiac output is also characteristic of left heart failure since the compromised function of the left ventricle leads to reduced blood being pumped into systemic circulation. Furthermore, left heart failure can result in an increase in pulmonary artery pressures, potentially leading to pulmonary hypertension.

In contrast, a normal central venous pressure (CVP) would be unexpected in left heart failure. While CVP measures pressure in the right atrium and reflects the volume status of the right heart, in left heart failure, one would typically expect changes in CVP due to the resulting hemodynamic alterations. Although CVP can vary based on hemodynamic stability, a normal reading may suggest that the systemic issues related to left heart failure are not significantly affecting the right side of the heart, which is unusual.

Therefore