Swan Ganz catheterization, also known as pulmonary artery catheterization or right heart catheterization, is a medical procedure used to measure the function and pressures within the heart and lungs. It involves the insertion of a thin, flexible catheter into a large vein and guiding it towards the heart, usually the right atrium.
The catheter used in Swan Ganz catheterization has multiple lumens, allowing for the measurement of different pressures. Once in position, the catheter is advanced through the right atrium into the right ventricle and then into the pulmonary artery. This allows for the measurement of pulmonary artery pressure and the sampling of mixed venous blood. Additionally, it aids in monitoring cardiac output, central venous pressure, and assessing left atrial and ventricular filling pressures.
Swan Ganz catheterization is primarily performed in critical care settings, such as intensive care units or cardiac catheterization labs, by skilled healthcare professionals. It provides valuable information about a patient's hemodynamic status and helps guide treatment decisions in conditions like heart failure, sepsis, cardiogenic shock, and certain types of lung diseases.
Despite its benefits, Swan Ganz catheterization is an invasive procedure that carries potential risks, including infection, bleeding, arrhythmias, vessel damage, and pulmonary artery rupture. Therefore, careful consideration of the patient's clinical condition and potential benefits is required before deciding to perform this procedure.
