Main difficulties during placement technique of Swan-Ganz cateter in dogs

• Grant number: 12/06766-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: May 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Valéria Nobre Leal de Souza Oliva
• Grantee: Heitor Fioravanti
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Swan-Ganz catheter, also known as pulmonary artery catheter, was developed aiming to monitor cardiac and hemodynamic function, as well as to provide data indicating prognosis and guiding therapy options for critically ill patients. Its placement is quick and easy but requires appropriate technical training. With this device, it is possible to obtain values of central venous pressure (CVP), pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure (PAOP), and cardiac output (CO). However, this technique entails risks for the patient, such as ventricular arrhythmias by stimulation of ventricular myocardium, or folding or even knotting of the catheter, cuff rupture, and acute cerebellar infarction. Eight beagle dogs, male or female, weighing between 5 and 20 kg, will be used in the experiment and undergo two catheter placements with a minimum interval of seven days between each anesthetic procedure. Due to the lack of studies in veterinary medicine related to the Swan-Ganz catheter placement technique, the purpose of this study is to describe the main difficulties encountered when using this catheter in dogs. Throughout the entire placement technique of the catheter, electrocardiographic monitoring will be performed and the time will be recorded and divided into segments according to the main anatomical obstacles to overcome. Complications such as arrhythmias, entrapment of catheter, balloon rupture or a number of attempts at reintroduction will be recorded and analyzed statistically.(AU)