Iatrogenic pulmonary artery rupture during Swan-Ganz catheter placement--a novel therapeutic approach

Pulmonary artery rupture (PAR) is a rare but deadly complication (incidence of 0.03-0.2% of all PA cannulations), with mortality in the region of 70%. We report a case of an 88-year-old woman with iatrogenic PAR as a result of Swan-Ganz catheter placement. A rapid successful isolation and occlusion of the culprit PA branch via the deployment of an Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AGA Medical Corporation, North Plymouth, MN) was performed. To our knowledge, this is the first case report where this device has been used as therapy in PAR.