Wood units
Standard measurement unit for pulmonary vascular resistance in pediatric cardiology, critical for surgical decision-making.
Full Definition
Wood units are the standard measurement for expressing pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in congenital heart disease. One Wood unit equals 1 mmHg·min/L, and normal values are less than 2-3 Wood units. Values above 4-6 Wood units may contraindicate certain surgical repairs, particularly Fontan completion or biventricular repair with closure of septal defects. Indexed Wood units (Wood units·m²) account for body surface area in pediatric patients. This measurement is crucial for assessing operability and timing of interventions in patients with congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension.
Usage
Usage note: Named after Paul Wood; capitalize when referring to the unit but not when used as 'wood units' in general text.
In Context
- "Pulmonary vascular resistance measured 2.1 Wood units, within acceptable range for Fontan completion." — catheterization report
- "The patient's PVR of 8.5 Wood units precluded biventricular repair of the large VSD." — consultation note