Transducer Levelling Errors in Everyday ICU Practice - A Multicentre Blinded Observational Study

Invasive pressure monitoring (arterial blood pressure via arterial catheter and central venous pressure via central venous catheter) is fundamental to clinical decision-making in intensive care. Treatment with vasopressors, fluids, and nursing interventions depends on accurate measurements. Because pressure transducers are hydrostatic, even small levelling errors can produce clinically relevant deviations (approximately 1 mmHg per 1.3 cm of vertical misplacement). Such errors may contribute to inappropriate therapy, for example under-recognition of hypotension, unnecessary vasopressor escalation, or missed venous congestion. This prospective, multicenter, blinded observational study will quantify transducer levelling deviations during routine ICU care and evaluate whether clinically relevant deviations are associated with treatment decisions. Adult mechanically ventilated ICU patients w