DEVICE TO LIMIT INFLATION OF A PULMONARY-ARTERY CATHETER BALLOON

Objective. The most serious complication seen with pulmonary artery ca theters is rupture of the pulmonary artery. The effectiveness of an ex ternal safety balloon added to the pulmonary artery balloon inflation port was tested. Design: The external balloon is designed to inflate a nd absorb excess volume from the inflation syringe after the internal balloon contacts the vessel wall. When the catheter tip is in a small pulmonary artery, expansion of the external balloon indicates that the catheter tip is in a noncompliant or small vessel. Setting: The exter nal balloon was tested in a bench simulation. Interventions: None. Mea surements and Main Results: The pulmonary artery balloon was slowly in flated inside 2.6-,3.0-,4.7-,8.6-, and 11.6-mm internal diameter polyv inyl chloride tubes, with and without the external safety device in pl ace. Without the external balloon, the average balloon pressure was 16 47 +/- 145 (SD) mm Hg in the 2.6-mm vessel. With the external balloon in use, the maximum pulmonary artery balloon pressure was 473 +/- 7.2 mm Hg in the 2.6-mm vessel. Conclusions: The external balloon can limi t balloon pressures within the pulmonary artery and identify when exce ssive volumes are being forced into the pulmonary artery balloon.