Pulmonary artery catheter

Pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), also known as a Swan-Ganz catheter, is a device used in medicine to monitor certain cardiovascular conditions. It is a long, thin tube that is inserted through a vein and guided into the heart and into the pulmonary artery, the main artery leading to the lungs.

History

The pulmonary artery catheter was introduced by Jeremy Swan and William Ganz in 1970. It was initially used for the management of acute myocardial infarction, but its use has since expanded to include the management of a variety of cardiovascular conditions.

Indications

Pulmonary artery catheters are used in a variety of clinical situations, including:

• Heart failure
• Shock
• Pulmonary hypertension
• ARDS
• Cardiac surgery

Procedure

The procedure for inserting a pulmonary artery catheter involves the following steps:

1. The patient is positioned on their back with their head turned to the side.
2. A local anesthetic is applied to the skin over the vein.
3. A needle is inserted into the vein, and a guide wire is passed through the needle.
4. The needle is removed, and the catheter is threaded over the guide wire and into the vein.
5. The catheter is then guided through the right atrium and ventricle of the heart and into the pulmonary artery.

Risks

As with any invasive procedure, there are risks associated with the use of a pulmonary artery catheter. These include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Arrhythmia
• Pulmonary artery rupture
• Thrombosis

See also

• Cardiac catheterization
• Central venous catheter
• Invasive procedures

References

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