ABSTRACT

The pulmonary catheter has more than three decades of its application in the medicine field. They are more hospitals that utilize it. Although controversial reports exist about its utility. Spite of that is an extremely necessary tool in the management of critical patient.

KEYWORDS

Swan-Ganz catheter, critical care, hemodynamic monitoring.

REFERENCES

1. Swan HJC, Ganz W, et al. Catheterization of the heart in man with use of a flow directed balloon tipped catheter. N Engl J M 1970; 283(9): 447-51.

2. Goldenheim PD, Kazemi H. Current concepts: Cardiopulmonary monitoring of critical ill patients (part 2). N Engl J Med 1984: 770.

3. Robin ED. The cult of the Swan-Ganz catheter. Ann Intern Med 1985; 103: 445.

4. West. Fisiología respiratoria. 3ª Ed. Panamericana. p 45.

5. Leatherman JW, Marini JJ. Clinical Use of the pulmonary artery catheter. In: Principles of Critical Care. First ed. Hall, Schmidt McGraw-Hill 1(25): 323-342.