A Drop of Danger: A Subtle Sign of an Entrapped Pulmonary Artery Catheter

Awareness of potential complications associated with a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) is essential to minimize the risk of adverse outcomes. Entrapment of a PAC is an uncommon but serious event, most frequently reported during cardiac surgery. However, it is usually recognized postoperatively when resistance is encountered during catheter repositioning or removal. Once identified, management often necessitates re-operation, although percutaneous techniques may be used in some cases. This report presents an atypical case of PAC entrapment, emphasizing the importance of early detection and outlining strategies for prevention in the intraoperative period.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2026-01-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.101455
Primary Topic
Hemodynamic Monitoring and Therapy
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

A Drop of Danger: A Subtle Sign of an Entrapped Pulmonary Artery Catheter

Harish Ram
Cureus
Hemodynamic Monitoring and Therapy
article

A Drop of Danger: A Subtle Sign of an Entrapped Pulmonary Artery Catheter

Harish Ram
article en

Abstract

Awareness of potential complications associated with a pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) is essential to minimize the risk of adverse outcomes. Entrapment of a PAC is an uncommon but serious event, most frequently reported during cardiac surgery. However, it is usually recognized postoperatively when resistance is encountered during catheter repositioning or removal. Once identified, management often necessitates re-operation, although percutaneous techniques may be used in some cases. This report presents an atypical case of PAC entrapment, emphasizing the importance of early detection and outlining strategies for prevention in the intraoperative period.

CureusVol. 18(1)
University of Kentucky (US)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 89%
Hemodynamic Monitoring and Therapy
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