PULMONARY ARTERY CATHETERIZATION

Course overview

PULMONARY ARTERY CATHETERIZATION IS A DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE IN WHICH AN INTRAVASCULAR CATHETER IS INSERTED THROUGH A CENTRAL VEIN, SUCH AS THE FEMORAL, JUGULAR, ANTECUBITAL OR BRACHIAL VEIN, TO CONNECT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HEART AND ADVANCE TOWARDS THE PULMONARY ARTERY. PULMONARY ARTERY CATHETERIZATION REMAINS AN EXCELLENT TOOL FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF PATIENTS WITH PULMONARY HYPERTENSION, CARDIOGENIC SHOCK, OR UNEXPLAINED DYSPNEA. IT CAN BE USED TO ASSESS RIGHT-SIDED CARDIAC CHAMBER FILLING PRESSURES, TO ESTIMATE CARDIAC OUTPUT, TO EVALUATE INTRACARDIAC SHUNTS, TO EVALUATE CARDIAC VALVES, OR TO ASSESS VASCULAR RESISTANCE. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE INDICATIONS AND TECHNIQUES INVOLVED IN PULMONARY ARTERY CATHETERIZATION AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF PATIENTS UNDERGOING THIS PROCEDURE.