title: Nodus migrans: the case of the migrating knot.
abstract: Flow-directed pulmonary artery catheters provide important information regarding intravascular volume status, cardiac function and vascular resistance. We describe an unusual complication of pulmonary artery catheterization in which a knot formed at the distal end was torn away from the catheter body and migrated from its original position in the right subclavian vein to a distal branch of the right pulmonary artery. Careful attention to insertion and withdrawal techniques could prevent this potentially serious complication.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Section, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ewer
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swafford
mesh_terms: D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D002407:Catheterization, Swan-Ganz / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography