Bleeding From a Pulmonary Artery Catheter Temperature Connection Port

p ERIOPERATIVE MONITORING with a balloon-tipped flow-directed pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) has been used clinically since 1970.1 The use of a PAC for cardiac surgical patients has become common practice, with low morbidity and mortality. However, significant complications during the insertion and use of this monitor include hematoma, 2 carotid artery puncture, 2 arrhythmias, 3,4 Homer's syndrome, 5 pulmonary artery embolism or rupture, sepsis, pneumothorax, catheter knotting, or entrapment by sutures. 1,6-8 This report describes two unusual presentations of PAC entrapment by sutures not reported in the earlier literature.