A comparison of inhaled nitric oxide with intravenous vasodilators in the assessment of pulmonary haemodynamics prior to cardiac transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
Elevated pulmonary vascular resistance and transpulmonary gradient are predictors of increased perioperative mortality in patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation. Sodium nitroprusside and prostacyclin PGI2 are routinely used to assess the reversibility of pulmonary vascular resistance and transpulmonary gradient in heart transplant candidates, but their use is limited by their systemic vasodilatory effect. The aim of this study was to evaluate the systemic and pulmonary haemodynamic effects of low concentration (10 and 20 parts per million) inhaled nitric oxide in patients with severe heart failure with elevated transpulmonary gradient and pulmonary vascular resistance undergoing assessment for cardiac transplantation, and to compare the haemodynamic effects of inhaled nitric oxide with those of sodium nitroprusside and prostacyclin PGI2.


METHODS
In 10 consecutive patients with elevated transpulmonary gradient (16+/-2 mm Hg) and pulmonary vascular resistance (3.6 +/-0.3 Wood units (WU)) nitric oxide (10 and 20 parts per million in 23% inspired oxygen (O2) via a tight fitting facemask) and increasing doses of intravenous sodium nitroprusside and prostacyclin were administered in a random, single-blinded fashion.


RESULTS
Inhalation of nitric oxide (10 ppm) reduced the transpulmonary gradient (-7+/-2 mm Hg; P<0.01) and pulmonary vascular resistance (-1.8+/-0.4 WU; P<0.001) but did not affect the systemic vascular resistance (-0.3+/-1 WU) or mean systemic arterial pressure (-1.3 5 mm Hg). Sodium nitroprusside and prostacyclin reduced the transpulmonary gradient (-4.5+/-2 mm Hg; P<0.01 and -3.6+/-2 mm Hg; P<0.05), pulmonary vascular resistance (-1.5+/-0.4 WU; P<0.001 and -1.3+/-0.4 WU; P<0.01), systemic vascular resistance (-7+/-2 WU; P<0.01 and -7.2+/-2 WU; P<0.01) and mean systemic arterial pressure (-15+/-5 mm Hg; P<0.01 and -18+/-4 mm Hg; P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Low-concentration inhaled nitric oxide is as effective as sodium nitroprusside and prostacyclin in reducing transpulmonary gradient and pulmonary vascular resistance, and is highly pulmonary vasoselective.
Pagano
D
D
Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Townend
J N
JN
Horton
R
R
Smith
C
C
Clutton-Brock
T
T
Bonser
R S
RS
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011464:Epoprostenol