Superior vena cava syndrome. Its association with indwelling balloon-tipped pulmonary artery catheters

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Abstract
The placement of flow-directed pulmonary artery catheters has become a routine procedure in hospitals throughout the country. There have been scattered reports of complications associated with their placement, but in general, if it is done under proper conditions, it is associated with low morbidity and mortality. Recently, there have been questions raised regarding the thrombogenicity of these catheters. Three [human] cases of a superior vena cava syndrome associated with the use of indwelling pulmonary artery catheters that were encountered are reported on and experience of others are reviewed.