TOPIC: Cardiothoracic Surgery TYPE: Fellow Case Reports INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary artery catheters (PAC) are used in cardiac surgery to provide critical clinical data. While safe, they are not harmless with multiple associated risks, including surgical entrapment. Causes of include suture snaring and PAC knotting. We present the case of a surgically entrapped PAC that was successfully removed in a percutaneous fashion. CASE PRESENTATION: A 61-year-old man with MV regurgitation presented for surgical repair. A PA catheter was placed through an 8-FR sheath in the RIJ vein. Sternotomy was performed and the patient was placed on central cardiopulmonary bypass with bicaval venous cannulation. The LA was entered through the inter-atrial groove, and MV repair performed. Following both atriotomy closure and venous decannulation, the anesthesia team reported seamless PAC mobility and the chest was closed. On POD1, removal of the PAC was met with resistance. Imaging confirmed normal PAC position without obvious entrapment. The patient was taken to the IR suite where fluoroscopy revealed tethering of the PAC at the inferior third of the SVC. The proximal aspect of the PAC was then cut and the indwelling sheath was replaced with a 9-FR braided sheath over the PAC, which served as 'guide-wire'. A point of obstruction was detected by tactile sensation. The sheath was then upsized to a 10-FR braided vascular sheath. With gentle, simultaneous, back-and-forth maneuvering of the catheter and sheath, the PAC was liberated and removed. Superior venacavogram revealed brisk flow of contrast through the SVC, RA and pulmonary outflow tract with no evidence of injury. Mediastinal tubes were removed on POD2 and the patient was discharged on POD5. DISCUSSION: PACs provide critical data to help guide therapy. In a review of over 15,000 patients, Kaplan et al reported a low risk associated with their use with entrapment constituting only 0.065%-0.1% of cases. The most common reported sites of entrapment are around the atrio-caval and atriotomy closure site. While a re-do sternotomy has been the traditional approach for retrieval, it carries inherent associated risks. Percutaneous options can be considered if the offending suture is sufficiently loose and has not perforated the PAC. This must be performed in a controlled environment with the appropriate resources available for a re-do sternotomy. Clinical surveillance with a repeat TTE in 24-HR are critical. Ultimately prevention is the best therapy with heightened vigilance during surgery to avoid PAC suture entrapment. CONCLUSIONS: A heightened sense of vigilance and recognition are key to the prevention and management of PAC entrapment. Sensible planning, cautious catheter instrumentation and attentive post-procedure assessment are all key to a successful outcome. In the unfortunate situation that this surgical complication does occur, a percutaneous approach for recovery is a viable and safe option to consider as discussed in our report. REFERENCE #1: A heightened sense of vigilance and recognition are key to the prevention and management of PAC entrapment. Sensible planning, cautious catheter instrumentation and attentive post-procedure assessment are all key to a successful outcome. In the unfortunate situation that this complication does occur, a percutaneous approach for recovery is a viable and safe option to consider. REFERENCE #2: Pfeiffer K, Widmann M, Deusch H, Guggenberger H, Duda S, Seboldt H. Inadvertant suture fixation of a Swan-Ganz catheter to the pulmonary artery following heart surgery. Anaesthetist. 1995;44:782–4 REFERENCE #3: Kaplan M, Demirtas M, Cimen S, et al. Swan-Ganz Catheter Entrapment in Open Heart Surgery. J Cardiothorac Surg. 2000;15:313-315. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Roger Goldman, source=Web Response Consultant relationship with Medtronic Please note: 5 years Added 02/16/2021 by Bob Kiaii, source=Web Response, value=Honoraria Consultant relationship with Johnson and Johnson Please note: 3 Years Added 02/16/2021 by Bob Kiaii, source=Web Response, value=Honoraria Consultant relationship with Boston Scientific Please note: 4 years Added 02/16/2021 by Bob Kiaii, source=Web Response, value=Honoraria Consultant relationship with Edwards Life Sciences Please note: 3 years Added 02/16/2021 by Bob Kiaii, source=Web Response, value=Honoraria Scientific Medical Advisor relationship with Abbott Please note: 6 months Added 02/16/2021 by Bob Kiaii, source=Web Response, value=Honoraria No relevant relationships by David Li, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by AMIR SARKESHIK, source=Web Response