The use of the pulmonary artery catheter in departments of cardiac surgery in the Czech and Slovak Republics - international questionnaire study
Abstract
Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency with which the pulmonary artery catheter is used in departments of cardiac surgery in the Czech and Slovak Republics, and to study the indications, complications and the use of alternative methods of haemodynamic monitoring. Design: Retrospective, international survey.
Setting: Centres of adult cardiac surgery. Materials and methods: An electronic questionnaire focused on data concerning the use of the pulmonary artery catheter between 2015 and 2017 was sent to all twelve adult centres of cardiac surgery in the Czech Republic and to three centres in the Slovak Republic.
The data returned from all the Czech centres and from one Slovak centre only. Results: The results show the catheter was used in 9.7% (0.7 - 29%) of cases, but with a significant variability among the centres.
The most frequently used alternative method of haemodynamic monitoring was echocardiography. Analysis of complications revealed that the most serious complication - heart or pulmonary artery perforation - was recorded in 0.18% of cases.
Conclusion: The authors found the use of the pulmonary artery catheter to be in accordance with the recommendations and trends in other countries. Because of the absence of evidence of the right heart catheterisation benefits in cardiac surgery, and occurrence of severe complications associated with this method, the authors conclude that the pulmonary artery catheter should be used in the most complicated cases only.