Pulmonary Artery Catheterization: Developing Guidelines

To the Editor. —Regarding the article entitled "Pulmonary Artery Catheterization: Can There Be an Integrated Strategy for Guideline Development and Research Promotion?" by Naylor et al,1the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) has just completed guideline development, including setting a research agenda for indications, risks, and benefits, of pulmonary artery catheterization. This process was guided by a methodologist (Steven H. Woolf, MD, MPH), was sponsored by the ASA, had outside reviewers, including experts in the field, organizational reviewers (American College of Cardiology, American College of Physicians, and American College of Surgeons), and was sent to the Society for Critical Care Medicine (whose review came in too late for their comments to be included). This guideline and literature summary have been published inAnesthesiology2after review in open forums and by the house of delegates of the ASA. The research agenda that was set is a major part of