UNUSUAL COMPLICATION OF RETROGRADE CORONARY SINUS PERFUSION WITH PULMONARY-ARTERY CATHETER

A balloon-tipped catheter placed in the coronary sinus is used during cardiac surgery for retrograde cardioplegia and is secured by a purse string suture placed proximal to the atrioventricular groove in the lo wer right atrium. We report a complication of this procedure where a p ulmonary artery catheter was sutured to the wall of the right atrium b y the purse string suture in a patient scheduled for aortocoronary byp ass grafting. Pulsatile resistance was noted when we attempted to with draw the catheter indicating an attachment to the heart. The pulmonary artery catheter within the vascular space after atrial cannulation sh ould be checked since the sheath-protected cannula will enable free mo bility.