Der Anaesthesist
-
A 58-year-old man, admitted with one-vessel coronary disease and aortic valve insufficiency, was scheduled for cardiac surgery. He underwent single coronary bypass grafting and aorta ascendens replacement by a composite graft. During surgery he was monitored by a Swan-Ganz catheter, which had been inserted uneventfully via the right internal jugular vein. ⋯ Fluoroscopy showed intracardiac entrapment of the catheter. Rethoractomy was performed, revealing entrapment by a suture. The purse-string suture was released, and the catheter was withdrawn without resistance.