Pulmonary artery catheter in anaesthesiology and intensive care medicine

The indication for the use of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) in high-risk patients is still a matter of discussion. Observational studies suggested that the use of the PAC did not result in decreased mortality but may even lead to increased mortality and morbidity. Therefore, a number of random...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Der Anaesthesist 2006-06, Vol.55 (6), p.713-28; quiz 729-30
Main Authors: de Waal, E E C, de Rossi, L, Buhre, W
Format: Article
Language:eng ; ger
Subjects:
Anesthesiology
Cardiac Output - physiology
Catheterization, Swan-Ganz - adverse effects
Critical Care
Hemodynamics - physiology
Humans
Pulmonary Circulation - physiology
Risk
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The indication for the use of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) in high-risk patients is still a matter of discussion. Observational studies suggested that the use of the PAC did not result in decreased mortality but may even lead to increased mortality and morbidity. Therefore, a number of randomized controlled trials have been performed throughout recent years in patients suffering from sepsis/ARDS, congestive heart failure, multi-organ failure and those undergoing high-risk non-cardiac surgery. The majority of recent randomized studies failed to demonstrate any benefit of the PAC with respect to mortality and morbidity. However, the use of the PAC was also regularly not associated with an increase in morbidity and/or mortality. This review gives an overview of measurement parameters obtained by the current generation of PACs, alternatives to the PAC and recent studies on the use of the PAC in clinical practice.
ISSN:0003-2417
DOI:10.1007/s00101-006-1037-0