Deep venous thrombosis of the upper extremity associated with use of the Swan-Ganz catheter.

Two patients who developed unilateral neck vein distention following insertion of a Swan-Ganz catheter are described. One patient developed unilateral swelling of the arm used for catheter insertion. Following removal of the Swan-Ganz catheter in this patient, venograms of both upper extremities revealed internal jugular vein thrombosis and subclavian vein thrombosis of the involved extremity. The other patient had thrombosis of the internal jugular veins and subclavian veins bilaterally, as well as superior vena cava thrombosis.