Swan-Ganz catheter

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Swan-Ganz catheter (swon-ganz) n. a catheter with an inflatable balloon at its tip, which can be inserted into the pulmonary artery via the right chambers of the heart. Inflation of the balloon enables indirect measurement of pressure in the left atrium. [ H. J. C. Swan (1922–2005), US cardiologist; W. Ganz (20th century), US engineer]