Which complication is most commonly associated with pulmonary artery catheter placement?

• A. Cardiac arrhythmias
• B. Pulmonic valve damage
• C. Hypotension
• D. Internal bleeding

Answer: (A)

The most commonly associated complication with pulmonary artery catheter placement is cardiac arrhythmias. During the insertion of a pulmonary artery catheter, there is a risk of the catheter causing irritation of the cardiac tissues or displacement that can impact the electrical conduction pathways of the heart. This irritation or direct trauma can lead to various types of irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias.

Although other complications like hypotension, pulmonic valve damage, and internal bleeding can occur during this procedure, they are not as frequently seen as cardiac arrhythmias. Hypotension may happen due to the volume status of the patient or if the catheter inadvertently enters the right ventricle, but it is not as common as arrhythmias resulting from the direct impact of the catheter on cardiac tissue. Pulmonic valve damage is quite rare because of the protective nature of surrounding structures and the careful technique employed during placement. Internal bleeding can occur, particularly if a blood vessel is punctured during insertion, but this is also an uncommon event compared to the likelihood of arrhythmias. Therefore, cardiac arrhythmias stand out as the most prevalent complication related to this procedure.