Pulmonary artery catheterization not helpful in severe heart failure

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

According to a new study, pulmonary artery catheterization used for monitoring does not give benefit to those with heart failure.
Pulmonary artery catheterization (PAC) is a way of looking at the status of the failing heart and may guide therapy for these patients. It sounds like a good idea, yet there are fears that this invasive technique could increase the death rate among those hospitalized for the condition.

Doctors at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, and colleagues elsewhere, now report on a trial of PAC monitoring in a group of those with severe heart failure. They hoped it might lead to a better outcome in terms of fewer days in hospital and a longer lifespan.

A group of 433 patients received therapy with PAC or therapy without. They were followed up for six months and after this time, both groups experienced reduction in symptoms. But PAC did not show any obvious benefit and led to more adverse effects - although not an increased death rate. The findings suggest that PAC should not be used routinely in the treatment of patients who have heart failure. But there may be some sub-groups for which it is appropriate. This should be the subject of more research.

Source
Journal of the American Medical Association 5th October 2005 Volume 294 pages 1664-1670