Use of the pulmonary artery catheter to reduce operative complications.
Despite several prospective, randomized trials that demonstrated reductions in operative morbidity and mortality rates, routine use of invasive monitoring has not achieved widespread acceptance. This probably comes from skepticism about the validity of some of the studies along with known complications of the pulmonary artery catheter. The major studies are reviewed and a rational approach to monitoring is presented.
Sola
J E
JE
Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
Bender
J S
JS
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery; D002407:Catheterization, Swan-Ganz / Q000009:adverse effects; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D016638:Critical Illness; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D012307:Risk Factors