The pulmonary artery catheter, also known as the Swan-Ganz catheter, was introduced in 1972 and allows direct measurement of pressures and calculations of cardiac output and other hemodynamic parameters. It has a balloon tip that is inflated in the pulmonary artery to measure pressures. The catheter can be used to diagnose various shock states, valvular diseases, and pulmonary embolism. Placement involves inserting the catheter into the internal jugular or femoral vein and advancing it into the right atrium, ventricle, and pulmonary artery while monitoring waveforms. Measurements include cardiac output, stroke volume, filling pressures, and mixed venous oxygen saturation. Trends over time are generally more useful than single measurements.