New horizons (Baltimore, Md.)
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To review the literature addressing the use of the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) in patients with respiratory failure. ⋯ The optimal role of the PAC as a diagnostic and monitoring device in different types of respiratory failure has not been clearly defined. Research is needed to determine the role of the PAC in very carefully defined groups of patients with respiratory failure.
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To survey physicians' attitudes toward the pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) and to assess physicians' knowledge of pulmonary artery catheterization. ⋯ The results of this mail survey/examination reflect the current attitudes and knowledge of the responding U.S. physician members of the Society of Critical Care Medicine regarding the PAC. The majority of the respondents are in favor of a prospective, randomized, controlled trial involving the PAC; 95% of the respondents feel that a moratorium on further use of the PAC is currently not warranted. Rather than a call for such a moratorium, a call for the development and maintenance of educational, credentialing, and continuous quality improvement policies involving the PAC is warranted and overdue.