What external feature is associated with a Swan Ganz catheter?

What external feature is associated with a Swan Ganz catheter?

• A. A pressure gauge
• B. A sterile sleeve to cover a portion of the outside body
• C. An external pump for medication delivery
• D. A digital monitor

Answer: (B)

A Swan-Ganz catheter, also known as a pulmonary artery catheter, typically features a sterile sleeve that covers part of the catheter's external body. This sterile sleeve is crucial for maintaining infection control and preventing contamination at the insertion site. The design of the catheter allows for multiple functions such as monitoring pulmonary artery pressures and cardiac output, which are vital for patient management in critical care settings. The sterile sleeve serves to protect the catheter from external contaminants and thus plays an important role in ensuring the catheter remains functional and safe for the duration of its use. Proper use of sterility is essential in reducing the risk of catheter-associated infections, a common complication in patients with central venous access devices. The other options listed refer to elements that are not standard features of a Swan-Ganz catheter. The catheter does not have an integrated external pump nor a pressure gauge attached directly to its surface, and a digital monitor is not part of the catheter itself but rather an external device that may read and display the data collected from the catheter when connected to monitoring systems.

A Swan-Ganz catheter, also known as a pulmonary artery catheter, typically features a sterile sleeve that covers part of the catheter's external body. This sterile sleeve is crucial for maintaining infection control and preventing contamination at the insertion site. The design of the catheter allows for multiple functions such as monitoring pulmonary artery pressures and cardiac output, which are vital for patient management in critical care settings.

The sterile sleeve serves to protect the catheter from external contaminants and thus plays an important role in ensuring the catheter remains functional and safe for the duration of its use. Proper use of sterility is essential in reducing the risk of catheter-associated infections, a common complication in patients with central venous access devices.

The other options listed refer to elements that are not standard features of a Swan-Ganz catheter. The catheter does not have an integrated external pump nor a pressure gauge attached directly to its surface, and a digital monitor is not part of the catheter itself but rather an external device that may read and display the data collected from the catheter when connected to monitoring systems.