Thrombosis Secondary to Temporary Cannulation with a Cordis Sheath and Swan-ganz Catheter. an Observation Systolic Compliance of Left Ventricle. Circulation 1977; Starch Asa Cause Ofthrombus With

thrombosis secondary to temporary cannulation with a Cordis sheath and Swan-Ganz catheter. An observation made in our institution is worthy of note. A 32-year-old woman with incomplete endocardial cushion defect and mild pulmonary hypertension underwent cor rective surgery. After induction of anesthesia, a Swan-Ganz catheter was placed through a Cordis sheath introduced into the internal jugular vein. Upon opening the right atrium, a segment of the catheter was seen coated by a thin layer of products of coagulation. The coagulum was examined microscopically and found to contain refractile elements consistent with starch particles, mixed with fibrin, platelets and cellular debris. We postulated that powder from the anesthesiologist's gloves, retained on the catheter, incited coagulation on the otherwise “¿ inert― surface. Because of this observation, we have wiped the operator's gloves with a damp sponge to remove all powder. Since instituting this precaution in numerous cases of repair of congenital lesions when a Swan-Ganz catheter was observed intraoperatively, no clot has been observed. Attention to elimination of starch from glove surfaces might decrease the incidence of intravascular thrombosis.