title: The design and implementation of a pulmonary artery catheterization simulator.
abstract: Pulmonary Artery Catheterization (PAC) is a commonly performed procedure. It is used when hemodynamic and other cardiac measures must be accurately monitored in seriously ill patients. A flow-directed, balloon-tipped (Swan-Ganz) catheter is typically inserted into a major vein, passed through the heart, and into the pulmonary artery. This procedure is normally not performed under fluoroscopy. Instead, transducer readings from the catheter tip provide a continuous report of local blood pressure. An experienced practitioner can infer the catheter's location from this information, yet several studies have found that physicians and critical care nurses have a wide variability in competency. A simulator for this procedure can address some of the educational and training issues highlighted. This paper describes our ongoing progress in developing a PAC trainer.
authors.affiliation: The Surgical Simulation Laboratory, National Capital Area Medical Simulation Center, Uniformed Services University, USA.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yogendra
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bhasin
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiorill
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bowyer
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haluck
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D014481:United States; D014584:User-Computer Interface