Right ventricle perforation after Swan-Ganz catheterization in a patient undergoing CABG surgery: A case report

ABSTRACT

We report an extremely rare case of right ventricle perforation by a Swan-Ganz catheter during open heart surgery. Even when pulmonary artery catheters are inserted with the utmost care, serious complications such as hematoma formation, pneumothorax, hemothorax, perforation of the cardiac chambers, and rupture of the pulmonary artery may occur. We present a case of primary closure of a right ventricle perforation discovered during coronary artery bypass graft surgery. In this case, the Swan-Ganz catheter was found penetrating the anterior wall of the right ventricle during the surgery. The location of the Swan-Ganz catheter, the stiffness of the catheter caused by hypothermia, and excessive surgical manipulation were supposed to be the etiologies. Therefore, the location of the Swan-Ganz catheter and increased stiffness from hypothermia should be taken into consideration during heart surgery.