[Massive endobronchial hemorrhage due to pulmonary artery rupture caused by a Swan-Ganz catheter]

Abstract

We present the case of a 69-year-old male bearing a Swan-Ganz catheter while undergoing aortic and mitral valve replacement. Massive hemorrhage through the endotracheal tube began after closure of the sternotomy. Selective endobronchial intubation was performed and the thorax immediately reopened to reveal a tear in the right pulmonary artery at the level of the middle lobar branch. The tear was sutured, and throughout the early postoperative hours the patient presented signs of active bleeding through thoracic drains, with persistent slight hemoptysis in the right branch of the endotracheal tube. Ventilation was controlled artificially with two synchronized respirators and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) up to 10 cm H2O in the right lung. The double-lumen tube was removed after 15 days with no complications and the patient was released two months after surgery. Massive endobronchial hemorrhage resulting from perforation of the pulmonary artery or its tributaries caused by Swan-Ganz catheters requires early diagnosis and treatment based on airway protection and immediate location and control of the point of hemorrhage. Selective endobronchial intubation with double-lumen tubes, direct arterial surgery and use of PEEP may constitute a valid alternative for management of these patients, making resection unnecessary.