Entrapment and cutting of a pulmonary artery catheter : Two cases report

ABSTRACT

Case 1A 59-year-old man underwent mitral valve replacement and Maze operation.Under general anesthesia, a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) and superior vena cava (SVC) cannula were inserted.There were no complications during surgery.However, when the surgeons attempted to remove the PAC the next day there was resistance that caused the catheter to break during removal.A chest X ray revealed that the distal portion of the PAC remained in his heart.Therefore, the patient underwent surgery to remove the remnant catheter.Case 2A 62-year-old man underwent mitral valvuloplasty.A PAC was inserted under general anesthesia.After the procedure, the patient was weaned off his cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).However, his pulmonary artery pressure could not be measured and an abnormal wave was observed. We attempted to re-insert the catheter, but were unsuccesful.An operation was conducted and the catheter was found to be tied at the septum of the right atrium.