A knot in the heart

Am Surg. 2008 Mar;74(3):235-6.

Abstract

Few diagnostic modalities in medicine have been the subject of greater debate for as long after their inception as the pulmonary artery catheter. Placement of a Swan-Ganz catheter is associated with various complications, one of which is knotting. Complications of usage of these catheters are numerous and can have devastating effects. Knotting of Swan-Ganz catheters is a rare complication that can often be managed successfully using interventional radiological techniques. The case reported is a rare case of Swan-Ganz catheter knotting resulting from inserting an excessive length of Swan-Ganz catheter into the heart. Knotting can be prevented by following the principle rule in floating Swan-Ganz catheters by correlating the inserted length of pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) with the expected change in waveform.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Catheterization, Swan-Ganz / adverse effects*
  • Device Removal*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Heart*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Artery
  • Radiography, Interventional