Catheter entrapment by atrial suture during minimally invasive port-access cardiac surgery

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Abstract
The port-access approach allows surgeons to perform heart operations through small intercostal openings, or “ports”. This technique requires new skills for anesthesiologists. A pulmonary artery venting (PAV) catheter and, in some cases, a coronary sinus catheter (for administration of retrograde cardioplegia) are positioned with the aid of fluoroscopy and transesophageal echography (TEE). Both catheters have a wider diameter than the more commonly used conventional PA catheter and present distinctive features. We report a case in which a pulmonary artery venting catheter was entrapped by a suture during a port-access procedure.