Caprine model for evaluation of pulmonary artery catheters

Abstract

Pulmonary artery catheterization is an indispensable procedure in human clinical monitoring and the rapid evolution of instrumentation for this procedure impels the development of methods for evaluation of catheters and associated equipment. These methods should be anatomically and physiologically realistic; and, preferably minimally intrusive to the non-human animal subjects. With appropriate equipment and careful technique, the goat (Capra hircus) serves very well for long-term evaluation of pulmonary artery catheters and monitors.<>