title: Vasodilator properties of prostacyclin after coronary artery bypass surgery.
abstract: The vasodilatory properties of prostacyclin were studied in 12 intubated patients who underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. When infused in doses of 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 ng/kg/min, prostacyclin produced a dose-dependent decrease in systemic vascular resistance from 2,702 +/- 143 to 1,654 +/- 106 dynes/cm5/m2 (p less than 0.05). Heart rate, right atrial pressure, and pulmonary arterial and capillary wedge pressures did not change. Cardiac function was improved, since stroke volume index increased from 29.5 +/- 1.4 to 35.5 +/- 2.0 ml/min/m2 (p less than 0.05) and the rate pressure product decreased from 13.3 +/- 1.3 to 10.9 +/- 0.9 X 10(3) mm Hg/beats/min (p less than 0.05), while stroke work index remained unchanged. These hemodynamic changes were associated with a dose-dependent decrease in arterial oxygen tension which occurred from 278 +/- 25 to 133 +/- 22 mm Hg; however, oxygen transport increased as a result of the prostacyclin-induced increase in cardiac index. This study demonstrates that prostacyclin is a potent arterial vasodilator that may be of interest in the treatment of postoperative vasoconstriction occurring after coronary artery bypass surgery.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000517:prevention & control; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D011464:Epoprostenol; D010100:Oxygen