Evaluation of Feasibility of Ultrasonography Guided Pulmonary Artery Catheterization in Pulmonary Hypertension Diagnosis

Pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) that called Swan-Ganz catheters provide valuable information in select patient's especially pulmonary hypertension patiens. PACs are indicated for assessment of cardiopulmonary hemodynamics in specific groups of patients presenting with pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism or shock \[1\]. They can be inserted at bedside under sterile conditions and provide valuable information that can add benefit for measures recorded with transthoracic echocardiography. The advancement of PACs in a patient is usually performed by flotation of a balloon tipped catheter under pressure waveform guidance. The balloon tip floats in blood and is directed into the pulmonary artery by the normal flow from superior vena cava and through the right heart chambers into pulmonary artery. The correct positioning is needed for safe use and accurate cardiopulmonary hemodynamics