Pulmonary artery catheterization lacks evidence of benefit for decreasing patient morbidity or mortality, and may actually increase these outcomes despite widespread use.
Does pulmonary artery catheterization improve morbidity or mortality in critically ill and/or hemodynamically unstable patients?
Despite widespread use and high costs, routine pulmonary artery catheterization in critically ill patients lacks evidence of benefit and may be associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
Pulmonary artery (PA) catheterization is performed daily in hospitals around the world. The hemodynamic data derived from PA catheterization are used to determine, monitor, and modify therapy in critically ill and/or hemodynamically unstable patients, including those with acute myocardial infarction (MI), congestive heart failure (CHF), and multiorgan failure, and they are frequently used to monitor patients with heart disease who undergo cardiac or noncardiac surgery. More than 1 million PA catheters are sold in the United States each year, and the annual costs associated with the use of PA catheters exceed 2 billion a year. Despite the widespread use of this procedure and its attendant costs, there is no evidence that it benefits patients. Its use has not been shown to decrease patient morbidity or mortality. To the contrary, there is evidence that it may increase morbidity and mortality. How Did We Get Here? Pulmonary artery catheterization was first performed
James E. Dalen (Wed,) conducted a editorial in Critically ill and/or hemodynamically unstable patients. Pulmonary artery catheterization was evaluated on Patient morbidity or mortality. Pulmonary artery catheterization lacks evidence of benefit for decreasing patient morbidity or mortality, and may actually increase these outcomes despite widespread use.
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