Pulmonary Artery Thrombosis Following Cardiac Catheterization

Abstract

Major thrombosis of a primary division of the pulmonary artery does not appear to have been recorded as a complication of cardiac catheterization. It therefore seems desirable to record the following case of mitral stenosis in which thrombosis of the right main branch of the pulmonary artery followed catheterization.

Is Knowledge of Hemodynamics Really Dangerous?

“…The first reports of the validity of PACs were published more than 15 years before the introduction of the Swan-Ganz catheter 2 and almost at the same time as the first serious complication in the form of thrombosis. 3 However, the number of reports accelerated considerably after Swan and Ganz published their studies on the thermodilution PAC in 1970. [4][5] Since its introduction 45 years ago, 4 the flow-directed balloon-tipped PAC has become a monitoring standard and a guide to therapy for patients with critical illnesses undergoing complex or cardiac surgical procedures.…”