Literature and new innovations leading to the rise and fall of the Swan-Ganz catheter

Background

In 1970, Harold James Charles Swan and William Ganz published their work on the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC or Swan-Ganz catheter). They described the successful bedside use of a flow-directed catheter to continuously evaluate the heart, and it was used extensively in the years following to care for critically ill patients. In recent decades, clinicians have reevaluated the risks and benefits of the PAC.

Aim

We acknowledge the contributions of Swan and Ganz and discuss literature, including randomized controlled trials, and new technology surrounding the rise and fall in use of the PAC.

Methods

We performed a literature search of retrospective and prospective studies, including randomized controlled trials, and editorials to understand the history and clinical outcomes of the PAC.

Results

In the 1980s, clinicians began to question the benefits of the PAC. In 1996 and 2003, a large observational study and randomized controlled trial, respectively, showed no clear benefits in outcome. Thereafter, use of PACs began to drop precipitously. New less and noninvasive technology can estimate cardiac output and blood pressure continuously.

Conclusions

Swan and Ganz contributed to the bedside understanding of the pathophysiology of the heart. The history of the rise and fall in use of the PAC parallels the literature and invention of less-invasive technology. Although the PAC has not been shown to improve clinical outcomes in large randomized controlled trials, it may still be useful in select patients. New less-invasive and noninvasive technology may ultimately replace it if literature supports it.