Abstract
Open mitral commissurotomy for mitral stenosis and Bentall's procedure for annulo-aortic-ectasia with aortic regurgitation were performed. Swan-Ganz catheter was monitored immediately after operation. Pulmonary embolisms of left lung occurred 2 and 3 days after operations respectively. Both cases were diagnosed by RI pulmonary scintigraphy. For the treatment of pulmonary embolilm, urokinase was injected intervenously 120, 000-240, 000 IU per day and anticoagulant therapy by warfarin started. Two cases were recovered uneventfully 2 weeks after operation. The prophylactic treatments of pulmonary embolism are necessary for the long time monitoring of Swan-Ganz catheter. They are, for instance, 1) the catheter is not inserted deeply so far as the wedge of pulmonary artery, 2) high density fluid is not infused through catheter, 3) urokinase and heparin are used continuously in using Swan-Ganz catheter, 4) the catheter of antithrombic material is better, 5) anticoagulant therapy by warfarin is better, 6) the catheter is removed as soon as possible.
