Swan-Ganz - right heart catheterization

Although you will receive sedation to relax you prior to the procedure, you will be awake and able to follow instructions during the test. You will remain on a stretcher or bed for the duration of the test. An insertion is made into a vein for threading the catheter into the heart. Local anesthesia is given to insert the catheter, and the only sensation is one of pressure at the site.

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You may experience some discomfort due to lying still for a prolonged period of time. The procedure may last up to 1 hour, and in critically ill patients, the catheter may remain in place for several days for monitoring.

Why the test is performed:

The procedure is performed for the following reasons:

To evaluate circulatory volume under the following conditions:
- Heart failure
- Shock
- Acute valvular regurgitation
- Congenital heart disease
- Burns
- Kidney disease
To monitor for complications of heart attack
To monitor effects of certain heart medications

Swan-Ganz catheterization can be used to detect abnormal blood flow between two usually unconnected areas (shunt). Conditions that can also be diagnosed or evaluated with Swan-Ganz catheterization include pulmonary hypertension, cardiac tamponade, and restrictive cardiomyopathy.