Most of the subjects that we have spoken about have to do with special equipment used in the ICU setting, so today we will talk about Swan-Ganz catheters. There are so many different things that can be used in the ICU and they can be very intimidating at first, so nurses have to become familiar with this equipment in order to properly manage the equipment and manage the critically-ill patient.
This is how the swan-ganz catheter looks like when it is in place:
Why use a Swan-Ganz catheter?
Indications:
-used to monitor the heart's function and blood flow
Complications:
- Bruising around the insertion site
- puncture to the lung
- injury to the vein being catheterized
- cardiac arrythmias
- cardiac tamponade
- embolism
- infection
- low blood pressure
Abnormal results may indicate:
- valve disease
- lung disease
- heart failure or shock
Nursing Care:
- monitor patient for complications
- monitor for signs and symptoms of infection
- monitor hemodynamic parameters and document findings
- notify doctor of any abnormal parameters or findings
Photo of Swan-Ganz Catheter
So class, when taking care of a patient with a Swan-Ganz catheter it is important to remember that they are usually used in very ill patients which means that any changes in parameters can indicate changes in the patient's status. Nurses play an important role in the care of critically-ill patients because they spend the most time with the patient and are able to tell when changes in the patient are ocurring.
I hope this helped to understand some important points about Swan-Ganz catheters.
Interesting Link:
http://ht.edwards.com/resourcegallery/products/swanganz/pdfs/invasivehdmphysprincbook.pdf
References
Dugdale, D. C. & Chen, M. A. (2010). Swan Ganz catheteriazation. Medline Plus. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/imagepages/18087.htm
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