Uncommon Entrapment of Swan-Ganz Catheter in the Main Pulmonary Trunk in Valvular Heart Surgery

The Swan-Ganz pulmonaryartery catheter (PAC) in cardiac surgery patients is used for monitoring haemodynamic status of the critically ill patients including cardiac output, mixed venous oxygen saturation and pulmonary artery (PA) pressure. The complications associated with catheter insertion include tachyarrhythmias, heart block, pulmonary artery rupture, catheter curling/ knotting and pulmonary artery catheter entrapment.

We report an unusual case where PAC was inadvertently entrapped in pulmonary artery vent stitch. Re-exploration, institution of CPB, and repair of pulmonary artery vent site were required to retrieve the pulmonary catheter.

Keywords: Swan-ganz catheter, PA catheter entrapment, Cardiac surgery, Pulmonary artery vent.