Misplacement of a Pulmonary Artery Catheter

We present the case of an attempted PAC insertion in a patient undergoing implantation of a left ventricular assist device. Although physiologic pressure waveforms were established, plausible measurements of cardiac output and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure were not initially obtainable. Chest radiography showed that the catheter was looped in the pulmonary artery. This malposition could not be visualized intraoperatively by transesophageal echocardiography. The PAC was replaced in the operating room after the left ventricular assist device was implanted.
Source: A&A Case Reports - Category: Anesthesiology Tags: Case Reports: Case Report Source Type: research