Pulmonary artery catheter

Pulmonary artery catheter
Diagram of pulmonary artery catheter
ICD-9-CM89.64
MeSHD002407
eMedicine1824547
Swan sitting on its packaging

A pulmonary artery catheter (PAC), also known as a Swan-Ganz catheter or right heart catheter, is a balloon-tipped catheter that is inserted into a pulmonary artery in a procedure known as pulmonary artery catheterization or right heart catheterization.[1][2] Pulmonary artery catheterization is a useful measure of the overall function of the heart particularly in those with complications from heart failure, heart attack, arrhythmias or pulmonary embolism. It is also a good measure for those needing intravenous fluid therapy, for instance post heart surgery, shock, and severe burns.[2] The procedure can also be used to measure pressures in the heart chambers.

The pulmonary artery catheter allows direct, simultaneous measurement of pressures in the right atrium, right ventricle, pulmonary artery, and the filling pressure (pulmonary wedge pressure) of the left atrium. The pulmonary artery catheter is frequently referred to as a Swan-Ganz catheter, in honor of its inventors Jeremy Swan and William Ganz, from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.[3]

  1. ^ "Pulmonary Artery Catheterization: Background, Settings in Which Use of a PAC Is Appropriate, Settings in Which Use of a PAC Is Inappropriate". 17 October 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Pulmonary Artery Catheterization - Heart and Blood Vessel Disorders". MSD Manual Consumer Version. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  3. ^ Bayliss, Michael; Andrade, Jason; Heydari, Bobby; Ignaszewski, Andrew (2009). "Jeremy Swan and the pulmonary artery catheter: Paving the way for effective hemodynamic monitoring". BCMJ. 51 (7): 302–307.