British journal of hospital medicine
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The pulmonary artery flow-directed catheter (Swan-Ganz catheter) has been in clinical use for 20 years. These devices are now used by 80% of UK intensive care units for the diagnosis and monitoring of a wide range of cardiorespiratory problems. The principal indications for the use of pulmonary artery catheters and the evidence supporting these indications are outlined in this article.
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Establishing venous access in infants and young children can be difficult and distressing for both operator and subject. Full competence in this procedure can only be achieved with experience. Nevertheless, a background knowledge of the basic principles involved and the differences from adult practice will considerably reduce the learning time.