Pulmonary artery catheter.
Controversy concerning the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) and its use as a bedside clinical tool continues to be a significant bone of contention. In the pursuit of evidence-based medicine, a substantial effort has been made over the last 25 years to demonstrate the benefit or lack thereof of PAC-led therapy, and this endeavor still persists with large, randomized, clinical trials currently in progress both in the United States and in the United Kingdom. This article reviews the core evidence for and against PAC efficacy and safety and considers the most appropriate method for validation of such a device.
Williams
Gareth
G
Department of Intensive Care, St. George's Hospital, London, UK.
Grounds
Mike
M
Rhodes
Andy
A
D002407:Catheterization, Swan-Ganz / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018795:Device Approval; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration