Which of the following is a use of a Swan Ganz catheter?

Which of the following is a use of a Swan Ganz catheter?

• A. Pain management
• B. Intravascular ultrasound imaging
• C. Cardiac pressure measurements
• D. Dialysis

Answer: (C)

A Swan-Ganz catheter, also known as a pulmonary artery catheter, is specifically designed for measuring various hemodynamic parameters within the heart and lungs. This catheter can directly measure pressures in the right atrium, right ventricle, pulmonary artery, and pulmonary capillary wedge, providing crucial information about a patient's cardiovascular status. By measuring cardiac pressures, healthcare professionals can assess conditions such as heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and the overall hemodynamic state of critically ill patients. The values obtained from a Swan-Ganz catheter can guide treatment decisions, fluid management, and medication adjustments in a highly accurate manner. In contrast, the other options presented serve different medical purposes. Pain management generally involves analgesics or other methods unrelated to hemodynamics, intravascular ultrasound imaging utilizes different technology for visualizing the interior of blood vessels, and dialysis is a renal replacement therapy utilized for patients with kidney failure, which does not pertain to the functions of a Swan-Ganz catheter.

A Swan-Ganz catheter, also known as a pulmonary artery catheter, is specifically designed for measuring various hemodynamic parameters within the heart and lungs. This catheter can directly measure pressures in the right atrium, right ventricle, pulmonary artery, and pulmonary capillary wedge, providing crucial information about a patient's cardiovascular status.

By measuring cardiac pressures, healthcare professionals can assess conditions such as heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and the overall hemodynamic state of critically ill patients. The values obtained from a Swan-Ganz catheter can guide treatment decisions, fluid management, and medication adjustments in a highly accurate manner.

In contrast, the other options presented serve different medical purposes. Pain management generally involves analgesics or other methods unrelated to hemodynamics, intravascular ultrasound imaging utilizes different technology for visualizing the interior of blood vessels, and dialysis is a renal replacement therapy utilized for patients with kidney failure, which does not pertain to the functions of a Swan-Ganz catheter.