Pulmonary artery pressure monitoring in persistent fetal circulation (PFC)

The use of the Swan-Ganz catheter to monitor pulmonary artery pressure in adults with cardiopulmonary failure has become commonplace. Our meager experience was with four neonates diagnosed as having persistent fetal circulation monitored by the use of this PA catheter. Tolazoline was infused directly into the pulmonary circulation via the catheter. Pulmonary artery pressure was temporarily reduced by tolazoline administration, with a marked increase in PaO2. More experience is required to define the role of the Swan-Ganz catheter in neonatal physiologic monitoring.