INADVERTENT SUTURE FIXATION OF A SWAN-GAN Z CATHETER TO THE PULMONARY-ARTERY DURING CARDIAC-SURGERY

We report a patient undergoing redo cardiac surgery for combined repla cement of the aortic and mitral valves. During the course of the opera tion, a Swan-Ganz catheter - positioned preoperatively - was accidenta lly fixed to the wall of the pulmonary artery. As this did not interfe re with cardiac output measurement or the pulmonary artery pressure wa ve form, the fixation was not noticed until an attempt was made to rem ove the catheter. Fluoroscopy revealed both the catheter's immobility and the location of the suture fixation. The patient required a sterno tomy to remove the catheter. In order to avoid this complication, the indications for pulmonary artery catheters during cardiac surgery shou ld be carefully considered. If catheters are inserted, their mobility should by all means be ensured before the chest is closed.