Pulmonary artery catheters (PACs), also known as Swan-Ganz catheters, provide a detailed window into a patient’s hemodynamics.

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In this episode, we cover: What a PAC is and what it measures (RA, RV, PA, PAOP, CO, SvO₂). When to use it: refractory shock, advanced heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, complex perioperative cases. Step-by-step placement and waveform interpretation. Calculations: SVR, PVR, CI, SvO₂ — and how to apply them clinically. Key benefits, limitations, and risks (arrhythmias, PA rupture, over-wedging). Landmark trials: ESCAPE (2005), PAC-Man (2005), Sandham (2003), FACTT (2006). How to integrate PAC data with echocardiography for patient management.

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-nlPhZP49U

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