Page 130 - AACN Essentials of Critical-Care Nursing Pocket Handbook, Second Edition

Treatment Use temporary pacemaker or flotation catheter with pacing wire. 117

Check transducer for cracks. Do not use IV flush solution that contains glucose. feasible. Catheter should be advanced balloon inflated. before PA catheter insertion.
Prevention Change transducers every 72 hours. Change catheter and/or insertion site with any local signs of infection and for infections without an obvious source (should obtain cultures). Remove catheter as soon as clinically expeditiously

Problems Encountered with Pulmonary Artery Catheters (continued)

Fluid contamination from transducer through cracked membrane Prolonged catheter placement branch block Abbreviations: PA, pulmonary artery; PAW, pulmonary artery wedge; RV, right ventricle;

Cause Mechanical irritation of bundle of His in patients with preexisting left bundle Adapted from: Daily E, Schroeder J. Techniques in Bedside Hemodynamic Monitoring. 5th ed. St Louis, MO: CV Mosby; 1994:134-135

Problem Heart block during insertion

of catheter
4.18