Key result
Right heart catheterization and hemodynamic optimization did not improve survival or hospital stay compared to conventional monitoring in high-risk surgical patients, but increased the incidence of pulmonary embolism.
The pulmonary artery catheter remains a valuable tool in intensive care when used correctly by trained personnel in selected patients, despite recent studies challenging its routine use.
Recent years have seen the place of the pulmonary artery catheter in intensive care increasingly challenged, with one recent study reporting no difference in outcome in patients treated with or without a pulmonary artery catheter. However, this study has several methodological flaws and, although pulmonary artery catheterization should not be performed routinely on all patients, when used correctly by trained personnel in selected patients the pulmonary artery catheter continues to provide valuable information.
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Backer et al. (2003) conducted an editorial in High-risk patients undergoing noncardiac surgery (n=1,994). Right heart catheterization and hemodynamic optimization vs. Conventional monitoring and therapy was evaluated on Survival and hospital stay. Right heart catheterization and hemodynamic optimization did not improve survival or hospital stay compared to conventional monitoring in high-risk surgical patients, but increased the incidence of pulmonary embolism.