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James E. Dalen, MD

JAMA. 2001;286:348-350.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

The introduction of the flow-directed pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) by Swan and associates in 1970¹ made it possible to perform right heart catheterization (RHC) at the bedside.

Right heart catheterization permits measurement of pulmonary artery and right heart pressures and cardiac output. In addition, measurement of pulmonary capillary or "wedge" pressure provides a close approximation of left ventricular filling pressure.² These measurements are more accurate in determining a patient's hemodynamic status than estimates based on clinical assessment.³ It was quickly established that the PAC could be used to diagnose accurately the major complications of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), such as left ventricular failure, cardiogenic shock, ventricular septal defect, and mitral regurgitation.⁴

The PAC can be kept in place for several days, allowing serial measurements and, thus, permitting bedside hemodynamic monitoring.⁴ Hemodynamic monitoring has been used widely in patients with AMI as well as during and after . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Author Affiliation: Office of the Dean, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson. Dr Dalen is editor of Archives of Internal Medicine.

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