title: Influence of alprostadil on pulmonary dysfunction after a cardiac operation.
abstract: To test the effects of alprostadil on pulmonary dysfunction after cardiac operations, we studied 24 male patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass. Twelve were given an intravenous infusion of alprostadil (synthetic prostaglandin E1), 20 ng.kg-1.min-1, in a double-blind manner during operation; the other 12 were controls. Duration of artificial respirator use and frequent blood gas analyses were used to assess postoperative pulmonary function. Use of the artificial respirator postoperatively was significantly lower in the prostaglandin group (mean time. 5.25 +/- 1.81 hours) compared with the controls (mean time, 8.34 +/- 4.35 hours) (p = 0.047). The proportion of patients with hypercapnia and with hypoxia determined every 4 hours for the first 24 hours after extubation was significantly lower in the prostaglandin group compared with the controls (p less than 0.0001). These results indicate that synthetic prostaglandin E1 may play a role in protecting lung tissue during extracorporeal circulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Sahlgrenska Hospital, Göteborg University, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: el-Gatit
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: al-Khaja
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Belboul
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rådberg
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005112:Extracorporeal Circulation; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000527:Alprostadil; D010100:Oxygen