title: The Use of Pulmonary Artery Catheter in Sepsis Patients: A Literature Review.
abstract: This article was to review the literature regarding the use of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) in the management of patients with sepsis and septic shock. A PubMed search was conducted in order to identify publications evaluating the use of PAC as a tool for management and therapeutic guidance in patients with sepsis. The bibliographies of all identified publications were reviewed for additional relevant references. Much information is identified in the literature regarding the indications for pulmonary artery catheterization in the assessment and treatment of patients with sepsis. Although the PAC has been widely used for many years, there is no clear benefit with regard to outcome, and there is controversy regarding its use. It is not clear that use of the PAC contributes to reduced morbidity and mortality in patients with sepsis. The role of the PAC is becoming less clear, as newer, non-invasive techniques are developed for hemodynamic assessment of sepsis patients. Large, well-designed clinical trials are needed to better assess the role and potential benefit from use of the PAC in sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital of Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Velissaris
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital of Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karamouzos
authors.affiliation: Coronary Care Unit, University Hospital of Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kotroni
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Department, Brugmann University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pierrakos
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Menelaos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karanikolas
keywords: Catheter; Circulation; Critical care; Intensive care; Monitoring; Morbidity; Mortality; Pulmonary artery; Sepsis