[Pulmonary artery catheterization. Advantages of internal jugular route. 75 cases (author's transl)]

The authors relate, after 75 cases, their experience of pulmonary artery catheterism carried out in case of cardiac surgery intervention. The Swan-Ganz catheter is exclusively introduced by the percutaneous internal jugular route and generally right (82 p. cent). During the progression of the catheter the radiologic control is not necessary. The complete failures are rare (2,5 p. cent) and the right pulmonary artery is mostly catheterised in every case. Complications are exceptional and often correspond to benign incidents like premature ventricular contractions which always disappear spontaneously, balloon ruptures (three cases) and the isolation of a non-pathogenic organism during the systemic bacteriologic examination without infections reactions. A serious infection complication has been found in one case and a pulmonary infarction is observed in another case. Compared with other venous route the advantages of this method lie in its very easy, simple, fast and trusty execution.