Rupture of the pulmonary artery - fatal complication by pulmonary artery balloon-tipped catheter

The flow directed balloon-tipped pulmonary artery catheter introduced by Sw an and Ganz 1970 has made possible the measurement of filling pressures in the heart and is extensively used in operating rooms, in catheterization la boratories and in intensive care units. The rupture of the pulmonary artery is an uncommon complication associated with a high mortality rate exceedin g 50 percent. Main symptoms are cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea and cardiac shoc k. Complications occur if guidelines for the safe use of the balloon-tipped catheters are not strictly followed: Excessive catheter manipulation, adva ncing the catheter tip too far peripherally and leaving the inflated balloo n in the wedge position for long periods should be avoided. Patients with p ulmonary hypertension as well as elderly and anticoagulated patients are at greater risk.