Background Data on pulmonary hemodynamic parameters in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are scarce.
Methods The associations between pulmonary artery catheter parameters for the first 7 days of ECMO, fluid balance, and hospital mortality were investigated in adult patients (aged ≥19 years) who received venovenous ECMO for refractory ARDS between 2015 and 2017.
Results Twenty patients were finally included in the analysis (median age, 56.0 years; interquartile range, 45.5–68.0 years; female, n=10). A total of 140 values were collected for each parameter (i.e., 7 days×20 patients). Net fluid balance was weakly but significantly correlated with systolic and diastolic pulmonary arterial pressures (PAPs; r=0.233 and P=0.011; r=0.376 and P<0.001, respectively). Among the mechanical ventilation parameters, above positive end-expiratory pressure was correlated with systolic PAP (r=0.191 and P=0.025), and static compliance was negatively correlated with diastolic PAP (r=−0.169 and P=0.048). Non-survivors had significantly higher systolic PAPs than in survivors. However, in multivariate analysis, there was no significant association between mean systolic PAP and hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.500; 95% confidence interval, 0.937–2.404; P=0.091).
Conclusions Systolic PAP was weakly but significantly correlated with net fluid balance during the early ECMO period in patients with refractory ARDS receiving ECMO.
The use of pulmonary artery catheter can be helpful in managing patients after cardiac surgery. Nevertheless, there is a risk of serious complications, such as knotting. A 61 year old man underwent tricuspid valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). After implantation of a stented tissue valve in the tricuspid valve, repositioning of the catheter was performed. After weaning from CPB, an abnormal pattern of pulmonary artery pressure was suddenly observed on the monitor. Resistance was met when removing the catheter with the balloon deflated, at a 20 cm distance from the tip of the catheter. Chest radiography showed a knot in the catheter within the right brachiocephalic vein.
Superior vena cava opened and the distal part of the catheter with the knot was successfully removed.
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Placement of a pulmonary artery catheter is associated with various complications, including catheter knotting.
Fluoroscopy can be used to visualize and confirm catheter knotting. Transesophageal echocardiography is readily available to detect knot formation in the operating room or intensive care unit. We present a case in which pulmonary artery catheter knotting was detected by transesophageal echocardiography. This method may be useful in the operating room or in the intensive care unit to identify the presence and location of catheter knotting.
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Knotting of Pulmonary Artery Catheter During Tricuspid Valve Surgery - A Case Report - Kyung Chen Lee, Wol Seon Jung, Yong Beom Kim, Ji Yeon Lee Korean Journal of Critical Care Medicine.2012; 27(1): 45. CrossRef
The occurrence of knots and loops is a potential hazard of a balloon-tipped, flow-directed pulmonary artery (PA) catheter placement if excessive catheter length is passed into the right atrium or ventricle. Knotting of a balloon-tipped, flow-directed PA catheter leading to difficulty in its removal is a rare but serious complication. A case of knotted catheter in right atrium in a patient undergoing aortic valve replacement is presented. By passing a spring guidewire into PA catheter, we have untied the loose knotted catheter under simple fluoroscopic guidance in the intensive care unit.
Insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter for the measurement of pulmonary artery pressures and cardiac output has been widely used for the management of patients undergoing open heart surgery. Complications of pulmonary artery catheter insertion include cardiac arrhythmia, thromboembolism, tricuspid valve injury, intracardiac knotting, pulmonary artery rupture. We experienced a case of catheter-related complication which was caused by suturing pulmonary artery catheter during right atrial bleeding control during open heart surgery. The catheter was attached to the right atrial wall by nylon suture and successfully removed by operation without significant complication.