Friday March 26, 2010



Q: Why it is important to inflate Balloon of Pulmonary Artery Catheter (Swan-Ganz Catheter) as soon as it enters Right Atrium?


Answer: During Pulmonary Artery Catheter insertion, care must be taken so as to inflate the balloon as soon as the atrial curve is noticed in the monitor, as it helps to avoid endocardial lesion in the tricuspid valve, as well as in the right atrium and ventricle like wall perforation.



Reference: Perforation of the Right Ventricle Induced by Pulmonary Artery Catheter at Induction of Anesthesia for the Surgery for Liver Transplantation: A Case Report and Reviewed of Literature, - Case Report Med. 2009; 2009: 650982. Published online 2009 December 31