Ventricular arrhythmias during Swan-Ganz catheterization of the critically ill.
The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in critically-ill patients during bedside right-sided heart catheterization with a flow-directed balloon-tipped catheter was determined. Twenty-nine of 60 catheterizations (48 percent) were associated with premature ventricular contractions and 20 (33 percent) were associated with ventricular tachycardia. Two patients required antiarrhythmic therapy or a precordial thump to convert ventricular tachycardia. One patient developed ventricular tachycardia and  fibrillation and died. Serious catheter-induced arrhythmias, including sustained ventricular tachycardia, may occur during Swan-Ganz catheterization of the critically ill.
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged